Locals in destination packed with tourists buy 'Island of Death' to escape

Venetian locals seeking refuge from overtourism have taken possession of a long-abandoned island with a haunting history. The locals purchased the island just for themselves - the only catch? It’s the site of a plague pit and former asylum. Poveglia is a spot of land between Venice and the Lido - which separates the Venetian lagoon with the Adriatic Sea.

It is Poveglia that will become the haven for those who live in the tourist hotbed come August 1, 2025. Despite the harrowing history of the island, the locals had to beat out property developers to ensure Poveglia remained a public asset. Locals now have a 99-year lease from the Italian state and seek to change it into an urban park open exclusively to residents of the Italian city.

The 7.5 hectare island was put on an auction list by the Italian State Property Agency in 2014. It was the activist group Poveglia per Tutti (Poveglia for Everyone) and its 4,500 members that managed to nab the island after raising €460,000 (£398,700) to secure the lease.

The triumphant story of the locals stands in juxtaposition with the island’s gruesome history. Known as the ‘Island of Death’, Poveglia was home to a psychiatric hospital after the Second World War with a rumoured ‘mad’ doctor.

It is also estimated that around 100,000 people lost their lives on the tiny isle as the bubonic plague ravaged Italy in the 1700s. Legend says that you can still hear the cries of the plague victims from the quarantine station.

Whether you believe the local legend or not, it’s hard to argue that the island has a notably dark past. Landmarks like the San Vitale church were also destroyed when Napoleon Bonaparte passed through.

Today, the church bell tower, deserted hospital and prison are among the few remaining structures. However, having been long abandoned, the structures are quite unsafe and thus the island remains closed to visitors.

That said, because the island is state-owned, interested travellers can seek special permission from the Municipality to visit. Typically, such permission is granted for purposes like film crews, photography projects, or research.

And again, after the restoration by Poveglia per Tutti, the island will only be open to other Venetian locals. According to the group, overtourism has necessitated a space for locals to reclaim their beloved home.

Venice welcomes an estimated 30 million tourists annually and has taken increasing measures to reduce the offset the number of visitors. One such measure is the five-euro tourist tax implemented in 2024 during peak times. Another measure ensures that cruise ships can no longer dock close to the lagoon city.

Patrizia Veclani, founder of Poveglia per Tutti, told CNN that her group sees this as a small victory in reclaiming Venice from overtourism.

“The island would never have been as popular as other places,” Veclani said, “but keeping this small space just for Venetians is a victory.”