Abandoned hospital, plague quarantine station, ghost stories.
You can see Poveglia Venice from a distance — but you can’t step on it.
✨ Introduction
Poveglia Venice is probably the most mysterious island in the entire Venetian Lagoon.
Once a quarantine zone during the plague and later a psychiatric hospital, the island has been abandoned for decades. Nature has taken back the buildings, and access is restricted — this is one of the few islands in Venice where you cannot freely land.
Yet, Poveglia fascinates travelers:
- abandoned buildings covered in ivy
- legends about ghosts and strange stories
- an untouched island that you can only observe from the water
Today, Poveglia is owned by the State. Access is restricted due to safety concerns and preservation.
👀 What You Will See (From the Water)
While you cannot walk on the island, you can admire Poveglia from outside by boat.
What you’ll see:
- the octagonal fort (part of Venice’s ancient defense system)
- the tower of the former hospital
- buildings covered by trees and vegetation
- silence and emptiness around the shore
On calm days, the place feels suspended in time.
Mysterious. Silent. Impossible to forget.
👻 Ghost Legends & Dark Stories (Why the Island Became Famous)
For centuries, Poveglia was a quarantine island. Boats bringing suspected plague cases stopped here.
Many never left.
When the psychiatric hospital opened in the 20th century, local rumors began:
patients claimed to hear voices coming from the abandoned structures at night.
According to Venetian legends:
- doctors experimented on patients,
- strange screams were heard,
- one doctor supposedly “lost his mind” and threw himself from the bell tower.
There is no official record confirming these legends, but the stories spread worldwide — especially after TV shows like Ghost Adventures filmed here.
Whether true or not, the silence of Poveglia, the overgrown buildings, and the isolation create the perfect haunting atmosphere.
Is it haunted?
We don’t know.
What is real is how Poveglia makes you feel — eerie and unforgettable.
❓ Can You Visit Poveglia?
No, not on foot.
Poveglia is closed to the public and landing is prohibited without permission.
The only legal way to see the island is:
- from a private boat
- during rare authorized events
⚠️ Do not attempt to land without authorization — security boats monitor the area.
⛵ How to See Poveglia by Boat
Several ways to see the island safely:
✅ Option A – Water taxi / private boat tour
You can ask the captain to pass close to Poveglia. Cost depends on the route.
✅ Option B – Rent your own boat (no license required)
You can navigate inside the lagoon on your own.
Poveglia cannot be reached by public transport. There are no vaporetto stops and landing on the island is restricted.
If you want to see Poveglia from close range (without breaking rules), the most practical option is a private boat.
See boat rental options in Venice →Read also: 🚤 Boat Rental in Venice — The Freedom of the Lagoon
🧭 Where is Poveglia? (Quick Map)
Poveglia is located next to Lido, on the way to Pellestrina, along the Southern Lagoon navigation route.
Approx. time by boat:
25 min from Venice (San Zaccaria)
10 min from Lido
🌿 Why Poveglia Matters
Even abandoned, Poveglia still:
- protects the lagoon ecosystem
- holds centuries of Venetian history
- preserves untouched nature
In Venice, silence is rare.
On Poveglia, it’s absolute.
❓ FAQ – Poveglia Venice
There are many legends, especially about the plague and the psychiatric hospital. None are officially confirmed, but the island’s atmosphere feeds the stories.
Because the abandoned structures are unstable and dangerous. Access is restricted for safety.
No. You can only circle around it by boat.
No. Landing is prohibited regardless of the type of boat.
➡️ Islands Near Poveglia (and worth visiting)
These are very close:
🔗 Continue Exploring the Venetian Lagoon
👉 Continue your journey: discover all the islands in the lagoon in the Venetian Islands guide.