Did You Know?

Venice, Italy is built on more than 100 small islands and has over 400 bridges connecting them all together. The city has no roads, only canals and footpaths.

Did you know that Venice is known as the "Floating City" or "City of Water"? This nickname is due to the absence of roads and cars within the historic center of Venice. Instead, transportation is primarily conducted by boats and water taxis, making it a truly distinctive and charming city to explore.

Did you know that Venice has over 400 footbridges? These bridges play a crucial role in connecting different parts of the city, spanning the canals and allowing pedestrians to move around. The most famous and iconic bridge in Venice is the Rialto Bridge, which dates back to the late 16th century.

Did you know that Venice experiences an annual phenomenon called "Acqua Alta"? During certain times of the year, particularly in winter, high tides cause flooding in some parts of the city. Wooden walkways, known as "pontoon" bridges, are temporarily set up to allow pedestrians to navigate through the flooded areas.

Did you know that Venice is home to the world's oldest operating casino? The Casino di Venezia, located in the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, opened in 1638 and continues to welcome visitors to try their luck at various games of chance in a historic setting.

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Poveglia: An Island Shrouded In Mystery And Horror

Just as Venice has an island for the dead in the form of Isola di San Michele, so does it have one that hosted the dying, namely Poveglia. The difference is visitors are allowed to the cemetery at San Michele, but not the ruins of Poveglia. Here, it is said, that as many as 160,000 people died over the centuries since it was first inhabited in 421. Most residents fled the island thanks to war in the late 1300s, but since then, it was relegated to sinister purpose.

The insane, murderous, plague-ridden and otherwise diseased were sent to Povelgia to live out the dregs of their sorry lives. It was a combined quarantine station, asylum and jail. And it attracted equally crazy professionals. A mental hospital opened here in 1922, and after years of what people believed was outright abuse and even murder by the medical staff, it closed quietly in 1968. The government attempted to sell it by auction, perhaps fearful of the number of human bones that might one day be discovered. Historical societies protested. It remains in limbo.

Despite its dastardly history, supporters still believe it is a valuable location, one of past tragedy, but that it should be preserved. Almost everyone locally thinks it is haunted, and a few brave souls have tried to spend the night there, despite access being illegal, and paid the price in fear. For now, Poveglia is off limits, but with any luck, in due course, its past will be properly investigated and perhaps a memorial to the lost souls it hosted will come to be.