Poveglia, Italy
During the horrific years of the Black Death, at the 14th -16th centuries, this small island near Venice was used as a “plague pit”, and tens of thousands of people have died here. During the early 20th century the island has hosted a mental hospital where the doctor in charge has supposedly murdered and tortured some of the patients, and eventually losing his mind and committing suicide. The island was named the most haunted island in the world, but that didn’t stop one very rich man from purchasing it in an auction in 2014 for £400,000!
The Island of the Dolls, Mexico
The island of dolls is a small island in Xochimilco district, in Mexico. The island is famous for having old broken dolls tied to tree branches and trunks. They were hung there by the sole, and now deceased resident of the island called Julián Santana Barrera. He claimed that he collected the dolls from canals and hung them to keep away evil spirits and make peace with the spirit of a dead girl he once found. It is also stated that he believed that at night, the dolls come to life and walk around the island. The island is accessible by boat, but probably too scary for most people, especially after dark!
Charleville Castle, Ireland
This Gothic castle in County Offaly is said to be haunted by a girl that broke her neck trying to slide down the tallest tower. Visitors have reported strange happenings in the castle, and a photographer who supposedly went up the tower disappeared and only his camera was found. The castle has been visited by many paranormal investigators and psychics, and featured in the TV shows Scariest Places on Earth and Ghost Hunters International.
Pripyat, Ukraine
An abandoned city in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. Pripyat was founded in 1970, for the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It had grown to a population of 49,360 before being vacated a few days after the 26 April 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Because of the radiation, the city cannot be repopulated and remains abandoned today. The view of this ghost town, so empty and lifeless, a city that was abandoned at once without warning – is frightening, surreal, and simply put – creepy.
Varosha, Northern Cyprus
A quarter in the Cypriot city of Famagusta. It is located within Northern Cyprus. Prior to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, it was the modern tourist area of Famagusta. Its inhabitants fled during the invasion, and it has remained abandoned ever since. An entire quarter of a city, with high-rise buildings, streets with shops, wide beaches – all entirely abandoned.
Suicide Forest (Aokigahara Forest), Japan
Aokigahara is a forest located at the base of Mount Fuji. The trees of the forest are so dense that they block all wind and almost all wildlife from existing in the forest. Because of that, the forest is known to be exceptionally quiet. Japanese mythology also associates the forest with demons. Today the place is also a popular place for suicides, giving the forest it’s creepy nickname. The Japanese government is trying to fight the phenomena by putting up signs urging people to reconsider.
Catacombs of Paris, Paris, France
The Catacombs of Paris is a huge underground cemetery that hold the remains of around six million people since the late 18th century! A visit to the Catacombs of Paris is now considered a popular – but very creepy – tourist attraction
