Poveglia

Poveglia is a small island in the Venetian Lagoon in northern Italy, between Venice and the Lido. Two small canals divide it into three parts. The island first appears in historical records in the year 421. People lived and farmed there until they fled a war in 1379.

From 1793 until after the Second World War it was a quarantine station for ships and their cargo, and from 1922 until 1968 its buildings were used as a care home or hospital. Since then it has been empty. Today it is famous for ghost stories, and it is closed to ordinary visitors. The legends are kept separate from the documented history below.

Documented history

After invasions in the 6th century, mainland settlers used the island as a refuge. By 864 it was a thriving fishing and salt-producing centre. It was largely destroyed in the War of Chioggia between Genoa and Venice (1378 to 1381). In 2014 the Italian state auctioned a 99-year lease, but the winning plan did not go ahead. A citizens' group, Poveglia per tutti, raised money to try to turn the island into a free public park. In 2025 the northern part was granted to it as a concession.

The legends

Local stories say thousands of plague victims were taken there, and tales of a haunting have drawn ghost hunters. These are folklore: the documented use is as a quarantine station, where sick people were kept apart from Venice. The island is closed to the public and cannot be visited freely. Please do not try to land there: the island is closed, and the rules are there for safety.

On the globe

Look for the Venetian Lagoon between Venice and the Lido in northern Italy.