Venice’s Mysterious Poveglia Island: A Reserved Haven for Locals
The long-abandoned Poveglia Island in Venice, with a history steeped in tales of plague quarantines and a former asylum, is set to undergo a transformation. Starting August 1, 2025, it will become an urban park exclusively for the local residents. This remarkable change is thanks to a local group, Poveglia per Tutti (Poveglia For Everyone), who successfully secured a 99-year lease from the Italian state after raising an impressive €460,000 ($539,000) to outbid property developers.
Located just three miles from St. Mark’s Square in the southern Venice lagoon, the 7.5-hectare (18.5-acre) island was nearly sold to private developers in 2014. Its dark past includes serving as a quarantine station during the 18th-century plague outbreaks. It is estimated that over 160,000 people were buried on the island between the 18th and 19th centuries. The island later served as a mental asylum.
Patrizia Veclani, the group’s founder, sees this victory as a significant step in the fight against overtourism in Venice. With 30 million tourists visiting annually and the local population dwindling to fewer than 50,000 residents, the need for local spaces is more crucial than ever. The project, guided by the University of Verona’s APsyM laboratory, aims to create a public lagoon park that respects the ecosystem while providing a peaceful retreat for Venetians.
Currently, the island is home to 15 dilapidated hospital buildings, military fortifications, overgrown woodland, and a large rabbit colony. The renovation faces significant challenges, as the island lacks basic amenities like electricity, running water, and proper docking facilities.
Source: CNN Travel