Poveglia Island, Italy. History, photos

Poveglia is a picturesque island in the Venetian Lagoon, dating back to 421. Located 30 minutes from the cultural center of Italy, it has a mysterious and gloomy reputation, is covered with dramatic legends and is forbidden to tourists.

General characteristics

Poveglia Island is a place guarded around the clock by patrolled services, part of the Venetian Lagoon and located opposite the Malamocco area, Lido di Venezia Island.

General characteristics of the natural object:

There is no land route to the island’s 600 km Lido. It can only be reached by private, water transport. The island territory is considered closed to the public, and the period for consideration of individual applications by the local municipality is 10 days.

There are also no reliable photographs of the island’s territory, since in Venice, as in other tourist cities, high-altitude photography is prohibited, and the independent launch of quadrocopters is punishable by a fine.

Historical data

The island of Poveglia first appears in historical chronicles in the 5th century, in connection with the resettlement of the inhabitants of Padua and Este who fled from the barbarian invasion, led by Alaric Goth and Attila Hun, during the decline of the Roman Empire. The original name of the island is Popilia, derived from the Italian pioppeti — poplar.

Numerous lagoon islands surrounded by the bay were considered fugitives, as protected as possible from the enemy army, which led to a rapid increase in the number of its inhabitants.

In the 9th century, the island’s population was also replenished with refugees fleeing popular unrest in the Republic of Venice, including its head and 200 people close to him. Up to the second half of the XIV century. the island territory was quietly built up. The church of San Vitale (St. Vitali), numerous gardens and vineyards appeared here.

The inhabitants of the island successfully traded, engaged in fishing, agriculture and salt extraction. Also, navigation was widespread in the Volga region, which has its own local government, and ships were carried out in the safest way.

In 1379, due to armed attacks and the siege of the Genoese fleet, which were part of the long-term confrontation between the Venetian and Genoese republics, the inhabitants of Poveglia were forced to move to the large island of Giudecca located within the city (and never returned), leaving their former place of residence completely uninhabited.

In 1527, the Venetian Doge Andrei Gritti suggested the sale of Poveglia on preferential terms to the monks of the Camaldula congregation, but the latter refused the offer they received.

In 1645, in the southern part of Povella, the Venetian government built a powerful octagonal fortification – an artificial island equipped with cannons and acting as an artillery fort in the defense of the republic.

After the end of the bubonic plague pandemic, in 1661, the Venetian Doge Domenico II Contarini made a new attempt to settle the island, turning primarily to the descendants of citizens who lived on its territory in the 9th century, and offering them to return to Povelya, but failed even despite the impressive remuneration offered for resettlement.

There have also been repeated unsuccessful attempts to sell the island territory.

Later, cattle shelters and warehouses were built on the Povelye, and in 1776 it was transferred to the needs of the health department.

The plague epidemic

One of the local names of the territory is “Plague Island” or “Gates of Hell”, which arose during the spread of bubonic plague throughout the European territory.

By the second half of the XVI century, which went down in history as the epidemic of the “Black Death” (1346-1353), which destroyed almost 1/3 of the population of Medieval Europe, the island, under the jurisdiction of the health department of the Republic of Venice, served as a burial place for citizens who died of a deadly disease.

Initially, 2 infirmaries were built here for patients with bubonic plague, imported from the mainland of the Republic of Venice in order to avoid the widespread spread of the “black death” in large cities.

Medical care for citizens who fell into Harm’s way, regardless of their gender, social status and material well-being, was practically not provided, being reduced to periodic examination by “plague doctors” who wore an elongated, beak-like leather mask filled with aromatic herbs that repel unpleasant odors, which is one of the causes of infection.

Historians are sure that there are also common graves of citizens who died from bubonic plague on Povella, reminiscent of those found in 2007 on the nearby island of Lazaretto Vecchio, but archaeological excavations confirming the theory have not been carried out to date.

In 1776, the 3rd infirmary appeared on the island, which served as a quarantine zone for the placement of goods and crews of merchants who sailed from afar.

All ships en route to Venice had to undergo a thorough inspection at the Poveglia checkpoint and undergo a 40-day quarantine, during which the arriving crew, along with their cargo, were placed in separate, isolated rooms, and if signs of the “black death” appeared, they were transferred to a special infirmary.

The checkpoint along with the infirmary functioned until 1814, and then it was closed. Instead, warehouses for weapons ammunition were equipped on the deserted island, which was almost completely destroyed by the army of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The church of San Vitale, built by the first settlers in Povelye, was also dismantled, and the bell tower was converted into a lighthouse, and the bell itself was removed and melted down.

A nursing home or a hospital for the mentally ill

At the beginning of the XX century, a nursing home was organized in Povelye, according to another version — a closed psychiatric hospital, where the mentally ill, as well as mentally healthy people, known for their negative attitude towards the ruling regime of Benito Mussolini, were kept.

What exactly happened within the walls of the closed medical institution is unknown, and in 1967, under mysterious circumstances, its chief physician died, presumably gone mad. The man fell from the bell tower, and soon after his death, in 1968, the psychiatric hospital was closed.

The last inhabitants remained on the island of flesh until 1985, using its territory for agricultural needs, and then left Povelya for unknown reasons.

Legends and myths

Poveglia Island is covered with many dark secrets, and residents of Venice and other Italian cities located near it try to mention the mysterious place as little as possible. Ordinary tourists are not allowed here. The local authorities make an exception only for researchers who evaluate the island territory from a professional point of view.

There is a police patrol cruising around the island, and according to people who ventured to visit it in violation of the law, it makes a rather unpleasant depressing impression.

Unconfirmed, gloomy legends of the island are based on two historical facts – the epidemic of the “Black Death” — bubonic plague of the IV century. and the closed psychiatric hospital located here.

The first of them tells that the island was used as a place of detention for family members who died of a deadly disease not only in the period from 1346 to 1353, but also during the Roman Empire.

They were allegedly taken to the island along with relatives infected with the “black death” and left in quarantine, in most cases ending in a painful death.

They did not have time to bury all the dead, which forced the city authorities to order the burning of the dead along with people still alive, but not showing signs of life. According to rumors spread by citizens living in Italy, the number of dead here is more than 150 thousand, and the island itself consists of almost 50% ashes from funeral pyres.

Local fishermen also still do not dare to spread nets near the “Island of Death” for fear of catching the bones of dead people.

There is no reliable confirmation of the existing legend, because:

• There is no historical data on the epidemics of the plague in Ancient Rome, and in the manuscripts of contemporaries of the pandemic of the “Black Death” of the XIV century. There is no information about the mass burning of people on the island of Povella.
• Archaeological excavations on the island were not carried out due to the ban of local authorities on visiting its territory, and photographs of overflowing human remains of graves discovered in 2007 by Luisa Gambaro, an anthropologist from the University of Padua, were taken on the nearby island of Lazaretto. It is forbidden to shoot on the ground using a quadcopter.
• No studies have been conducted on the island soil layer for the content of ash in it.

The second legend dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century, and tells about the atrocities committed in a closed medical institution.

According to unconfirmed reports, the institution built on the island did not belong to a nursing home, as described in modern travel guides, but to a closed psychiatric hospital for mentally ill patients, whose chief physician used non-traditional methods in treatment, including electroshock treatment, and also practiced the use of prohibited drugs.

According to rumors, medical experiments were also conducted here, including a lobotomy of the skull without anesthesia and using a hand carpentry tool – a chisel, drill, hammer.

The legend also tells about mentally ill people suffering from nightmares, accompanied by strange moans, screams and the appearance of ghost souls who died on the island during the epidemic of the “Black Death” of people.

The reason for the suicide of the chief physician of the clinic is also called mental problems associated with the appearance of disembodied souls of people previously tortured by him.

Legend has it that in the crumbling building of the psychiatric hospital, strange bells and screams of the dead can still be heard, and after walking through its surviving rooms, you can see the particles of clockwork scattered everywhere.

There is no reliable data confirming the legend, and skeptical people also claim that:

• The debris found in the walls of the building may be associated with the gradual destruction of kitchen equipment.
• People suffering from severe psychiatric disorders may hear strange voices and suffer from hallucinations.

Residents of Venice and nearby cities also do not believe in the gloomy, paranormal rumors surrounding the island, claiming that the lack of population on the island is not related to the alleged mass graves and ghosts appearing there.

The Italians are also sure that the destroyed building of the island previously belonged not to a psychiatric hospital, but to a rest home for the elderly, but the remains of medical equipment found in its walls and inscriptions on the walls confirm the presence of a hospital for mentally ill patients here earlier.

The surrounding mysteries and many contradictory, dramatic rumors made the island the hero of one of the series of the documentary, American, mystical television show “Ghost adventures!”.

According to rumors, during the night filming conducted using infrared equipment, one of the participants in the project, writer and director Zach Bagans, was forced to temporarily suspend work due to the unfavorable environment.

Released a few months later, the series created a real sensation among American viewers, and the island itself became a place of pilgrimage for fans of the paranormal.

Current status

Poveglia Island today is a piece of land located a short distance from Venice, surrounded by the waters of the bay, with dense vegetation and several large historical buildings located on it:

• The bell tower of the XII century., which is the only preserved part of the Church of St. Vitali erected by the inhabitants of the island and the oldest building. In the XVIII century. it was converted into a lighthouse, but is now in disrepair.
• A walled artificial island that appeared in the 17th century and served as a fortified artillery fort. In the 19th century, Napoleon’s army landed here, and at the bottom of the lagoon, according to one of the legends, you can still find the remains of French ships.
• Surrounded by scaffolding, a dilapidated building of a nursing home (psychiatric hospital), with numerous fences, warning signs and small buildings located near it that served as housing for the clinic staff. Inside the building there is a private chapel, and from its roof there is a picturesque view of the coastal lagoon.

In 2014, the Italian government decided to sell or lease the abandoned island, which led to the emergence of a patriotic group on social networks “Poveglia per tutti”, which organized a collection of funds to buy out the island territory, but following the results of the auction, the Italian businessman and mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro became the owner of the Poveglia.

Having paid the sum of 513,000 euros for his purchase, he stated that he did not want the historical landmark of Italy to fall into the wrong hands and promised to make the island territory open and attractive to tourists.

According to Brugnaro, he is going to invest more than 20 million euros in the construction of infrastructure, which will allow to equip a luxury hotel here and restore historical buildings, but currently it is forbidden to visit the island territory without prior permission issued by the local municipality authorities.

There are no regular routes to Povelya, and you can only get to it by private transport.

Excursions

Excursions to the island are conducted informally and organized by several private travel agencies in Italy, including the Viva Venetia company, which offers a one-day sea trip on a private boat for a group of 3-7 people at a cost of 80 € per passenger.

The cost of service includes:

• Sailing trip starting from St. Helena Bay by boat, 6-9 m long and passing through the Orphano Canal;
• The opportunity (optional) to practice sailing skills under the guidance of an experienced instructor;
• A story about the history of the island, ending with a 30-minute stop, giving the opportunity to walk along the pier.
• Swimming from a boat (for those who wish) and lunch with a variety of drinks;
• Return to the port.

Poveglia is a mysterious island surrounded by dark secrets in the Gulf of Venice.

Located opposite the Malamocco district, the Lido di Venezia island, it is considered a witness to dramatic historical events, including the bubonic plague and the Napoleonic Wars, attracts fans of paranormal phenomena from all over the world, but despite its popularity, it has been officially closed for free visits for more than 30 years.

Video about the island

City of the Dead: the uninhabited island of Povella:

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