Is Italy a country hunted by spirits? As you may know, this is a pretty old place, with a lot of history, battles, traditions. All dated lands keep many secrets difficult to disclose… Can we find any ghosts in Italy? The answer is: of course, yes!

Following this idea, we would like to guide you on the discovery of the many hunted castles, forts, and buildings you would never guess being hunted. Halloween week is finally here and we thought it was a good idea to show you a dark side of our “Bel Paese.”

This article will be a little “taste” of the many creepiest Italian places. Aura of unresolved mysteries, enigmas, and sinister vibes, circle these beautiful Italian sites. Let’s name them:

• FOSDINOVO CASTLE, MASSA CARRARA

The village has one of the most unique castles of the region, which it is called “Malaspina castle.”

Residents of the hamlet, are no longer surprised when in the full moon nights, appear female spirits along the castle walkway.  People are still debating on whom that ghost might be associated: some think that might be Bianca Maria Malaspina, walled alive by a manor. Some others, consider the spirit of the noblewoman Cristina Adelaide Pallavicino; whom, afterwards, had the custom to throw her lovers in a deep well.

Back in 1990, a TV show was able to record the silhouette of this hooded woman. However, they were not capable to identify which one of the two possible women.

•  SAN LEO’ S FORT, RIMINI

Certainly, it’s Cagliostro Count ghost. He lived in the ‘700 and was well known as: alchemist, medium, and mind reader. As result of his so broad knowledge, the court of inquisition deducted that he was a wizard. So, he was punished with accuses of witchcraft.

He was, in fact locked up in the San Leo’s fort and isolated from the outside world. No one could talk to him; food was served through a basket dropped from a trap door located on the ceiling. He lasted in that tiny cage only for four years.

These forced years of loneliness, made his spirit very angry. He is still looking for a real justice!

•  SAN GALGANO ABBEY, SIENA

This is a less known place, but it still requires to be highlighted: San Galgano Abbey, it’s very close to the town of Chiusdino, Tuscany countryside; distingushed from cypress trees, and flowery meadows background. 

This Abbey is the first gothic church built in Tuscany. Even though, it is now a destroy without roof, you will still have a clear idea of how it was before. Another important site to visit is also the Rotonda di Montesiepi, not too far from the abbey. The Montesiepi roundabout keeps the legendary “Sword in the stone”, a legend or fairytale that inspired Medieval books, films, and animation movies. We underline that you can visit this last place; however, the sword is covered from a protective shield, so you will not able to draw the sword, like King Arthur did many centuries ago.

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• CURSED POVEGLIA ISLAND, VENEZIA

Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon. It is considered as one of the most haunted and most evil places in the world. Local fishermen, out of fear, won’t even get too close to the island. This place was abandoned in 1379 after a war in Chioggia, then reused for the Black Plague, in 600’ as a huge cemetery that held more than 150.000 burned and buried corpse. Lastly, in 900’ it was opened as a mental institution which it was soon closed once inexplicably, a person threw himself from one of the towers. After this last episode, paranormal activities stories spread, and everybody abandoned the island to its destiny.

•  BARDI FORTRESS, PARMA

It is a fortress positioned in the center of Bardi village. This is one of the most important Emilia-Romagna military sites.

At night time, you might meet the mad spirit of knight Moroello. Legend tells about the daughter of the nobleman, and this brave knight. Soleste and Moroello were deeply in love, but the lady was promised to be married to another wealthy man. Moroello had to travel to fight against enemies for a large amount of time. After a while, Soleste thought her knight was dead in the battlefield, so she threw herself into the keep of the castle.

Once Moroello came back and realized what happened to his beloved, he could not take the bad news, so out of desperation, he committed suicide. During 1990 the castel was studied from parapsychology. Also, a ghostbuster team was capable to take a picture of the sad solitaire knight.

• LA STREGA DEL VESUVIO, NAPOLI

During the Vesuvio eruption dated 1858, the event was so violent and strong that the large amount of lava covered a huge ravine. Due to this, people were able to simply walk on it and move from one side to the other.

After the eruption, people who lived close by the Vesuvian mountain were woken up by intense women screams. They could not take it anymore, so they all decided to visit a very powerful witch.

After explaining the problem, the old lady was taken to the place were the screams were heard, so she started speaking in a loud voice an arcane language.

Ever since she made this spell, The Vesuvio mountain became a quiet place again.

Antonia L. Mosca