August 1, 2025, 12:06 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Poveglia is a small island between Venice and Lido that—after many years of being inaccessible, overgrown, and abandoned—earned some less flattering nicknames over time. The so-called “Island of Madness” or “Hell” served as a quarantine station and later as a psychiatric clinic, remaining closed to the public for a long time. At one point, it was nearly privatized. But now there are other, very concrete plans for its revival. All the details here.
New Plans for Venice’s “Ghost Island”
An unvisited Italian patch of land—and that in the lagoon of Venice, the ultimate tourist hotspot? There must be a catch. And in the case of Poveglia, it’s said to be ghosts. Historically, this reputation stems from Poveglia’s use as a plague island and later as a psychiatric facility. After its closure, the site fell into disrepair. No one lived there anymore, and the area was closed to visitors for safety reasons. For many years, Poveglia remained inaccessible—dilapidated buildings and dense undergrowth made use nearly impossible. This is about to change!
Poveglia Was Almost Turned into a Hotel Complex
At this point, it’s worth expanding a bit. Since 2014, the Italian government has planned to sell a 99-year usage right for the island via online auction. For a while, Luigi Brugnaro, entrepreneur and mayor of Venice, was considered a private owner of the island. He wanted to build a hotel complex on the approximately 18.5-acre island. A similar approach was taken on the nearby island of Sacca Sessola, which has housed a spa hotel since 2015.
However, the plan for Poveglia faced opposition, especially from the citizens’ initiative “Poveglia per tutti” (translated: “Poveglia for All”). They also bid—raising 460,000 euros from donations. However, the association was rejected because other applicants had more financial resources. This decision was declared unlawful by an administrative court in 2018. It still took many more years, which are now expected to come to a positive conclusion. As reported by the Italian daily “La Repubblica,” the citizens’ initiative was able to secure a temporary concession for the relevant northern part of Poveglia in July.
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Next Steps for Nature and Cultural Area on Poveglia
The plan that can finally be implemented stands in stark contrast to Mayor Brugnaro’s failed project. More details can be found in a letter of intent published by the Poveglia per tutti association in 2015. The draft deliberately aims to prevent the privatization of Poveglia. The island in the Venice lagoon is not to become another attraction or accommodation for outside visitors but a publicly accessible green space.
As “La Repubblica” elaborates, the goal is to gently open the area. A nature and cultural area accessible to the public and especially to the residents of Venice is to be created. A park with walking paths and retreats is planned, preserving the ecosystem and landscape elements that characterize the lagoon. This is detailed on the University of Verona’s website. The university is closely involved in the implementation and supports the plans scientifically. Among other things, invasive plant species introduced to Poveglia by human activity, which can harm the ecosystem, are to be removed. Instead, native vegetation is to be specifically promoted.
The initiative has a six-year partial concession for the northern area of Poveglia. There is hope for an extension after this period.
Poveglia as a Model for Sustainable Urban Development
Poveglia is a counterproposal to the tourist island. The citizens have reclaimed this place to counter further commercialization. The plan for a green retreat in the crowded lagoon of Venice combines environmental protection with the common good, setting a clear example.