You could own the world's most haunted island
Thinkstock
If you've always wanted to own an island, have a ton of extra cash, and love ghosts, then today is your lucky day.
Reuters reports that Italy is putting several buildings and pieces of land up on an online auction to pay down its public debt and comply with European Union budget guidelines. One of those properties, Poveglia, is a 17-acre island off the coast of Venice. Despite its lovely location, Poveglia has a horrific past and is viewed by many as the "most haunted island" in the world.
Parade broke down the island's greatest hits of horror: In the 18th century, it was used to quarantine dying victims of the plague; In 1922, the island’s mental hospital was run by a doctor who performed lobotomies on patients with hand drills, chisels, and hammers. That doctor eventually threw himself from the top of the hospital's tower, blaming his madness on ghosts. Poveglia has been deserted since the hospital closed in 1968, and it looks very creepy today (check out the photos, below).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The starting price for the island hasn't been shared, but an official from the agency managing the auction told The Independent that properties of a similar size have sold for more than $5 million. Ghosts, however, are probably extra. --Catherine Garcia
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published