Italy is hauntingly beautiful in more ways than one. From menacing medieval castles to chilling cemeteries and creepy crypts, there are plenty of opportunities for adrenaline-pumping adventures that are sure to give you pelle d’oca (goosebumps).
Here’s a rundown of destinations that could leave you shaking in your boots.
Capuchin Crypt, Rome
Underneath the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione on the legendary Via Veneto lies a series of small chapels decorated with the skeletal remains of over 4,000 Capuchin monks. Arranged in intricate patterns on the walls, ceilings and floors, some of the bones form crosses, while others adorn chandeliers or are strung into elaborate garlands. Confronted with the stark reality of death, visitors may feel a mix of fascination and unsettling dread. The combination of dim corridors, deafening silence and macabre artistry will send chills down your spine.
Via Vittorio Veneto 27, Rome / Tel. +39 06 88803695 /
Fontanelle Cemetery, Naples
The ancient Fontanelle Cemetery in Naples is one of Italy’s creepiest graveyards, with a dark labyrinth of tunnels giving it an otherworldly, supernatural vibe. It’s hidden in an underground cave that was once used to house the bodies of tens of thousands of people, many of whom were victims of plague, famine, populist uprisings and earthquakes, as well as five eruptions of Vesuvius. In the 19th century, a practice of “skull adoption” between cemetery visitors and the anime pezzentelle (“lost souls” or “souls in purgatory”) developed; the living offered prayers and upkeep to the skull in exchange for blessings or protection. Though the “adoption” practice is no longer officially in place, it remains an important piece of local lore.
Via delle Fontanelle 80, Naples / Tel. +39 338 965 2288 /
Villa de Vecchi, Lombardy
Also known as the Casa rossa (Red House), the dilapidated Villa de Vecchi is said to have once been inhabited by a cruel countess whose spirit still roams the property. Hidden away in the town of Cortenova (Lecco), the home was built in the 19th century, but today is crumbling after being left abandoned for nearly two decades. Defaced by vandals, its broken windows, overgrown gardens and decaying interior have become a magnet for ghost hunters. Once a symbol of grandeur, the mysterious villa has been described by many sources as one of the most haunted houses in the world; many local legends say that you can hear the soft sounds of a piano and sharp female voices echoing at night. Note: The grounds are accessible, but use common sense; most locals avoid going there when it’s dark out.
Via Provinciale 2, Bindo, Cortenova (LC)
Borgo dei Fantasmi, Abruzzo
Perched high in the Abruzzo mountains, Gessopalena Vecchia, nicknamed the Borgo dei Fantasmi (ghost village), is a ghost town frozen in time. Its crumbling white-stone houses, cobblestone streets and abandoned churches whisper tales of its once bustling past. Abandoned in the 1950s due to a series of earthquakes and hardships in the area, visitors often report feeling a chill in the air, seeing strange shadows and getting an odd feeling they’re being watched.
To get there by car, from Pescara take SS16 west to A25 toward L'Aquila, getting off at the Bussi-Popoli exit. Take SP119, continuing toward Gessopalena. / GPS coordinates: 42.050°N, 14.267°E
Capuchin Catacombs, Palermo
Tucked away in Palermo’s western suburbs are the city’s gruesome catacombs. Over the centuries, monks became adept at mummification, managing to preserve the remains of around 8,000 priests and wealthy Palermitans. These musty bowels bring viewers a history lesson — with a side of spine-tingling terror.
If you’re not too squeamish, visit the resting place of little Rosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old girl from Palermo who died in 1920. Embalmed by Dr. Alfredo Salafia — famed for his handiwork with the departed — Lombardo has been called the “most beautiful mummy in the world.”
Piazza Cappuccini 1, Palermo /
Bonus: Poveglia Island, Venice
This eerie island has long been off-limits to the public (and recently was who want to keep it a visitor-free zone). But if you book a tour of the Venetian lagoon, boats often pass by Poveglia, offering a glimpse of its haunting silhouette from a safe distance.
Used as a quarantine station during an 18th-century outbreak of the plague, and then later as a psychiatric facility, Poveglia Island is widely considered to be haunted. Past visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures and hearing strange noises, including blood-curdling screams.
