Venetian Lagoon, Venice

Experience the Wonders of the Venetian Lagoon

Explore the Cities and Towns of Venice

Licensed & Insured

We are a fully licensed Italian tour operator. All our guides hold official regional accreditation, and our drivers are NCC-certified professional chauffeurs.

Local Knowledge

Our team lives and works in Venetian Lagoon. We don't just know the landmarks — we know the hidden alleys, the best tables, and the stories that make this place unforgettable.

Tailored Experiences

Every itinerary is custom-crafted for you. Whether it's a private guided tour at dawn or a wine tasting in a family vineyard, we design experiences that match your pace and interests.

Overview

The mythical and abandoned island of Poveglia in the Venice lagoon

When thinking of the island of Poveglia, thoughts that come to mind are: A haunted stories, dump spot for victims of the plague in the 20th century, and multiple cases of total abandonment and remigration.

Poveglia is a small island located in the Venetian lagoon in Northern Italy. The island is divided in two and is connected by a small canal. This island unlike all the others in the Venetian lagoon has a very particular history. A history that has been for years captivating to those who like a good haunt story or some adrenaline of the like.

Its history supposedly dates back all the way to the year 421 when the people from Padua and Este moved there in order to escape from the barbarian invasions. From there on, multiple events took place that today formed a haunting reputation for this particular island based on many rumors confirmed or yet to be confirmed.

Among many stories told about this island, they claim that this island was once used as a quarantine station for ships going to Venice to do trading businesses. As the plague became once again a serious issue in the 20th century, they used the island of Poveglia as a quarantine station where ships had to remain at for forty days while they were being inspected for plague infection. The Venetians used this as a method to prevent further spreading of plague on the main land.

Only those who received a clean bill of health were allowed to proceed and land in Venice. This is also the moment where the word "quarantine" was invented. The ships unfortunately detected with plague were evacuated and left on this island to wait for their own death together with those brought from Venice for the same reason.

As the numbers grew more and more, a mental hospital was established on the island in the hopes to cure the ones who were mentally ill.

The doctor and founder of this mental hospital carried out, besides many recovery treatments, some experiments on the patients including crude lobotomies, which was a highly cruel procedure.

Rumors say that, this psychiatrist threw himself from the island's bell tower after claiming to be driven mad by the same ghosts of the ones who suffered to death from the plague and his cruel experiments.

According to historic estimates, 1500.000 people died on this island over the years. As a result they say, that the soil of Poveglia largely consists of human remains. In 1968 everything got closed down and the island was once again abandoned. After this, thanks to its haunted reputation many film makers became interested in Poveglia as an ideal location for movie sets. Ghost Adventures was a well-known show that was shot on the island. Rumors say that the director also claimed to be briefly driven mad by the ghosts there.

Now, due to the hefty debt of Italy, the state decided to put the island off for auction in the hopes that someone will take it over, restore it, and convert the psychiatric center into a luxury hotel.

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Our Private and Small Group Tours

TUR-01542

Birdwatching on the Venice Lagoon

Join us on an amazing tour of Venice's beautiful natural lagoon, which is filled with diverse flora, fauna, and fascinating historical landmarks. This tour will take you away from the bustling crowds of Venice and allow you to experience the serene b...

Private

5.5 Hours

STARTING FROM

€510 per person

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Our Featured Properties

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Bella Vista Villa

8 Beds 7 Baths 13

Air Conditioning +12 more

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Villa Prodigioso

6 Beds 5 Baths 9

Air Conditioning +15 more

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Villa Bellissima

9 Beds 6 Baths 15

Air Conditioning +12 more

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Villa Delizioso

8 Beds 5 Baths 15

Bathroom with Shower +11 more

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Popular Transfer Routes in Venetian Lagoon

Most requested private transfer services across the region

Italy Vacation Specialists provides licensed private transfer services throughout Italy, including Venetian Lagoon and surrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience, our professional English-speaking drivers offer both Business Class and Luxury Class vehicles for airport transfers, city-to-city rides, and full-day chauffeur services. All vehicles are fully insured, well-maintained, and operated by vetted local drivers who know the roads, traffic patterns, and best routes across the region.

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