Places to visit for Halloween in Veneto.
Here are 10 ancient locations, fascinating and mysterious, where you can celebrate All Hallows’ Eve in an original way and test your courage.
If you have nerves of steel and cannot resist the intriguing atmosphere of medieval fortresses haunted by ghosts and lazarets populated by tormented souls, this decalogue is definitely for you.
Halloween in Venice
1 – Palazzo Dario
Located at number 352 in Campiello Barbaro in the Dorsoduro district, Palazzo Dario is a sumptuous 15th-century building overlooking the Grand Canal, recognizable by a slight tilt to the right due to structural weakening. The palace stands out for its elaborate medallions, made of polychrome marble and white Istrian stone, which stand out on the facade, at the base of which is the inscription dedicated to Giovanni Dario, a wealthy merchant as well as notary and Ducal chancellor: VRBIS GENIO IOANNES DARIVS, meaning Giovanni Dario, in honor of the genius of the city.
Palazzo Dario: The curse, between myth… and reality
The hypothesis that the foundations of the noble residence were built where a cemetery once stood seems to fuel the fear that the palace bears a terrible curse.
Following the death of the owner and commissioner of the elegant home, adverse fate seemed to strike the heirs of the palace:
The wife of one of the owners died prematurely following her husband’s financial collapse, and one of their sons later died in war.
One of the subsequent owners, a wealthy merchant from the southern Caucasus, fell into ruin after purchasing the marvelous Lombardesque palace.
The same fate befell the next buyer, a British academic who went bankrupt.
During the 20th century, one of the owners was murdered in the vast and sumptuous rooms of the noble residence.
Remember the Latin inscription mentioned earlier? For centuries the glorious wording has been anagrammed into Sub ruina insidiosa genero, meaning he who dwells under this roof shall come to ruin… and the list of misfortunes is not over yet!
From prominent figures in the music industry to authoritative industrialists, those who bought the ancient property lost their lives in accidents or suicides.
The ancient palace is an ideal destination for those who wish to merely admire its spectacular architecture, recently restored, whose breathtaking beauty inspired the creative genius of masters like Claude Monet, the absolute genius of Impressionism who chose to immortalize the formidable facade in one of his canvases.
The intriguing succession of misdeeds and tragedies that has pervaded the atmosphere of the 15th-century residence for centuries makes Palazzo Dario one of the most fascinating and frightening locations in the city of Venice.
2 – The Island of Poveglia
Located along the Canal Orfano opposite the district of Malamocco in the southern part of the Venetian lagoon, the island of Poveglia is divided into three sections:
Dating back to the 16th century and remodeled during the Austrian occupation, the octagonal fort of South Poveglia includes ruined buildings such as the towering bell tower, the hospital, and the former rest home.
Separated from the rest of the island by a navigable canal and connected to South Poveglia by a small bridge, North Poveglia is characterized by lush and uncontaminated vegetation.
Fueling the theory that the splendid lagoon oasis is possessed by tormented souls are the events related to a boat that, during the plague epidemic that struck Venice at the end of the 18th century, was brought ashore on the island of Poveglia to give shelter to the infected crew members.
Following the dramatic emergency, the island was used on other occasions to contain outbreaks of plague, yellow fever, and cholera.
The spectral environment of the bell tower, overrun by thick arboreal vegetation, the sinister atmosphere of the abandoned rooms in the old poorhouse, the news reports concerning the horrible death of unfortunate plague-stricken sailors, seem to have cast an invisible and gloomy shroud over the island of Poveglia, capable at the same time of attracting curious adventurers and making them flee in dismay, frightened by sudden noises or the echo of exasperated moans whose origin remains unexplained to this day.
Halloween in Chioggia
3 – Halloween in the Valley of the Seven Dead
One of the oldest and most gruesome maritime legends of the region is undoubtedly set in the southern lagoon of Venice, the scene where, centuries ago, the mysterious and inexplicable death of six fishermen occurred.
According to tradition, the tragic disappearance took place in the stretch of lagoon between Lake Anghiero and the Caneogrosso Valley, reachable via the Cornio canal.
The causes of the sailors’ death remain unknown. Some accounts date the discovery of the bodies to the end of the 17th century, while other sources seem to confirm that the legend has much older origins, dating back more than eight hundred years.
Despite uncertainties about the origins of the macabre story, the most widespread version features six fishermen who, after finding the body of a drowned man, choose to load the corpse aboard and transport it to the nearest fishing hut, where they intend to spend the night in the company of a young boy.
To lift their spirits after the grim discovery, the sailors decide to make fun of the young boy by making him believe that the corpse is actually one of their companions, left in the boat to rest.
Gathered around the fire at nightfall, the fishermen send the boy to call the deceased, indistinguishable in the darkness from a sleeping man, to invite him to dinner.
Seeing the boy walk away, the fishermen are pleased with the successful prank, but their laughter suddenly dies after the boy, returning from the short trip, appears in the company of the redivivus body, which with a threatening and spectral air points to the fishermen one by one, pronouncing the seven deadly sins.
The terrible apparition instantly freezes the present company, except for the boy, the sole witness of the event, whose identity remains shrouded in mystery.
Visiting by boat one of the most secret and fascinating places in the world, immersed in the spectacular lagoon territory of Chioggia, is an unmissable opportunity to spend All Hallows’ Eve in an adventurous and memorable way. Do you have the courage?
4 – The Witch’s House
The haunted house is nestled in the picturesque urban context of the historic center of Chioggia, located opposite Ponte Scarpa on Fondamenta Canal Vena.
According to popular tradition, the house was once inhabited by a fearsome sorceress who kidnapped children to secretly drag them into her lair.
Legend has it that the inhabitants of Chioggia, exasperated by the despicable witch, managed to capture her to put an end to her wicked raids.
To ward off the evil aura that pervaded the house, a tabernacle was made and affixed to the top floor of the cursed residence, bearing the half-bust figure of the Madonna holding the Baby Jesus.
Would you have the nerve to spend Halloween night inside the most spectral residence in Chioggia?
Halloween in Treviso
5 – The Castle of Collalto
The gruesome circumstances surrounding the death of Bianca, a young woman raised and loved like a daughter by Count Tolberto of Collalto,
present disturbing similarities with “The Cask of Amontillado” (1846), a disturbing horror story by Edgar Allan Poe.
Similar to the story of the tormented American author, in which the aristocrat Montrésor walled up the noble Fortunato alive to avenge an unforgivable offense, poor Bianca would suffer the same tragic fate for having aroused the jealousy of Chiara Da Camino, a member of the illustrious Venetian family who married Tolberto to put an end to the bitter disputes that had involved the two illustrious Veneto families for centuries.
Before leaving for war, the Count of Collalto went to his wife’s rooms to bid her farewell. Bianca, who was combing the Lady’s hair at that moment, struggled to hold back her emotion upon hearing the news.
Betrayed by the tears streaming down her cheeks, the young girl’s sorrow did not go unnoticed by the countess’s attentive eye, who, through the mirror, discreetly studied the girl’s reaction.
Annoyed by what happened, the wicked woman waited for her husband’s departure to vent her bitterness on the poor girl, ordering her to be walled up alive in the underground prisons of the fortress, condemning her to a slow and atrocious death.
Centuries after the macabre event, it seems that Bianca’s tormented soul still wanders among the castle walls, announcing her presence with spectral moans and appearing in a white robe that, on the occasion of sad events, turns into a delicate raven veil.
6 – Halloween at the Abbey of the Ghosts of Monastier
An invaluable sacred monument founded more than a thousand years ago, the thousand-year-old abbey of Santa Maria del Pero is surrounded by the radiant rural landscape of the Treviso countryside.
A prominent element of the Benedictine place of worship is the splendid Romanesque cloister, the oldest section of the abbey now open to the public following careful restoration work.
The inner courtyard is an intelligent and harmonious combination of the building’s architecture and the uncontaminated green area that grows luxuriantly inside, which, thanks to the reintroduction of native species, has brought to light the ancient orchard once tended by the Benedictine monks, now growing lush within the spectacular internal garden enclosed by 15th-century walls.
Another prominent element is the first floor of the cloister, an example of organic and balanced architecture distinguishable by the characteristic mullioned windows that, making the rooms bright and airy, create a continuity with the outside that gives the structure a light and serene atmosphere.
The ancient rooms of the abbey, which during the Great War inspired the stories of Ernest Hemingway, seem animated, as reported by various testimonies, by the distant echo of monks in prayer, whose liturgical chant accompanies ghostly processions that take place at nightfall.
Though seemingly unsettling, the spectral apparitions do not seem to corrupt the peaceful and restful environment of the monastery. On the contrary, more nostalgic than tormented, the souls of the Benedictines seem to miss the sacred and quiet splendor of what was once their refuge, and upon returning, they betray their presence by slamming a door or a window, or reciting a prayer aloud, thus disturbing the sleep of guests, sometimes causing irritation, sometimes fear.
7 – Halloween in Treviso: The Spirits of Colle Montello
The enchanting natural relief extends between the municipalities of Nervesa della Battaglia, Montebelluna, Crocetta del Montello, Giavera, and Volpago del Montello.
The peculiar geological structure of the hill, due to the collision of the African plate with the European one and shaped by erosion from weather and the Piave river, is characterized by numerous natural gorges, sinkholes, and springs, many of which are underground, whose silent flow seems to recall the circulatory system of a fantastic sleeping giant, invisible from the surface but an essential carrier of life, witnessed by the vast and pulsating heritage of floral, arboreal, and faunal biodiversity that grows lush and vibrant in this fairy-tale place.
Adding to the charm of the spectacular natural oasis is the alternation, often sudden and surprising, between the bright and verdant forest landscape of the hill and the dark meanders that insinuate themselves with unpredictable paths into the bowels of Montello, guardian of karst springs with crystalline waters, inaccessible to inexperienced visitors.
And it is precisely the suggestive and intricate complex of natural cavities that over the centuries has given rise to a vast repertoire of popular legends featuring mischievous little devils and sprites, benevolent fairies, and tiny gnomes, too busy and hurried to show themselves to prying eyes.
Among the over sixty caves that dot the slopes of Montello, the Buoro di Ciano stands out not only for the abundance of clear waters that flow through it but also for the esoteric charm of the folkloric tales concerning the ancient cave, one of which, according to Roman mythology, tells how the nymph Ciane, a fairy who dwelt in the evocative cave, was transformed into a spring by the god Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, as punishment for having tried to prevent the abduction of Proserpina.
Pervaded by an irresistible arcane and legendary charm, the lush and mysterious slopes of Montello are the ideal setting for lovers of mysticism and hunters of paranormal presences, and what better occasion to explore the secrets of this land than the next Halloween?
Halloween in Padua
8 – Halloween Castello di Valbona
Rising at the extreme western foothills of Monte Lozzo, in the Padua area, the castle of Valbona was built by the noble Maltraversi family between the 10th and 13th centuries.
Where once stood the majestic castle, destroyed due to the bitter disputes between the Ezzelini and Scaligeri, the sumptuous Villa Lando-Correr was built, a spectacular three-story rural villa distinguishable by its characteristic barchessa.
Wars, plots, betrayals, and retaliation have fueled several terrifying legends featuring swordsmen and ghostly knights, whose specters wander distressingly near the ancient fortress during stormy nights, or centered on the dramatic story of the daughter of Germano Ghibelli, whose tragic tale, though not confirmed by reliable sources, continues centuries later to cause unease in the hearts of those who venture among the castle walls.
According to some accounts, the woman’s heart gave out from grief for not being able to marry her beloved.
According to other versions, the young woman was walled up alive inside the fortress, or, as claimed in other stories, the woman was beheaded and her head thrown into the river below.
Many swear they have heard the victim’s laments within the castle walls, others have felt a sudden chill penetrate their bones for an instant, even though they were in the heated environment of the fortress.
Superstition or paranormal apparition? The best way to judge the truth of these suggestive legends is to go to the prodigious stronghold, if you dare.
Halloween in Verona
9 – Church of San Pietro under the Rock
Surrounded by a splendid olive grove, the thousand-year-old place of worship is a gem of Romanesque architecture set in the lush rural context of Limone sul Garda, a municipality in the Verona area of which the little church is the oldest temple, as attested by written sources that place it in the 11th century.
Accessible via a charming portico, this monument of sacred art houses within its single nave an invaluable cycle of frescoes recently restored and returned to its original splendor.
A careful excavation campaign carried out in the immediate vicinity of the medieval church, located at Via Gardesana dell’Acqua, 38, 37011 Locality San Pietro, Bardolino (VR) has brought to light artifacts from a Roman necropolis from the 2nd and 4th centuries AD and other finds of remarkable archaeological importance relating to a residential nucleus, a communication route, and a dwelling from the imperial era.
The legend of the church of San Pietro under the Rock
It is said that the idyllic setting surrounding the beautiful Romanesque church was stained many years ago by the tragic disappearance of Diana and her beloved, a poor fisherman whose name has not even survived.
The two young people, eager to marry, met with the unwavering opposition of the young woman’s father, firmly against the marriage, and therefore decided, with the help of a hermit who lived in the little church of San Pietro under the Rock, to celebrate the wedding there in secret.
To avoid being discovered, the fisherman reached Diana near her home, and once aboard the boat, they sailed towards the small temple, whose position was indicated by a candle, the only reference in the otherwise total darkness.
The strong wind, however, a tragic mishap, ended up capsizing the boat, and the two unfortunate souls drowned. Centuries after their disappearance,
According to legend, the spirits of the two lovers, whose laments are sometimes heard from the lake, persist in seeking the faint flame of the candle, to reach the thousand-year-old church and finally seal their union.
Halloween in Vicenza
10 – Halloween at Villa Fraccaroli
Palazzo Fraccaroli is a majestic 19th-century ruin that, despite being unfinished, presents itself as a sumptuous architectural monument, noble and elegant despite its current state of decay and neglect.
Although construction was already well underway, the clients moved to Arzignano after becoming parents.
Designed by Antonio Caregaro Negrin, one of the most talented architects of the time, the building consists of a two-story central body, topped by an attic and flanked laterally by two polygonal towers that give it the appearance of an imposing castle-house.
The Spectral Presences of Villa Fraccaroli
It is said that during the construction of the villa, a heavy beam fell on a little girl who was there, causing her death.
According to legend, the tormented spirit of the girl continues to wander among the desolate walls of the palace, incomplete and in ruins.
The uncertainty about the origin of the girl’s tragic fate, combined with the spectral atmosphere of the sumptuous ruins, attracts fearless visitors every year who, seduced by the morbid and forbidden charm of these environments, go there to investigate and shed light on one of the most macabre mysteries of the Vicenza area, still unsolved.
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