Island in popular holiday destination purchased by locals to avoid tourist masses, known for being an former quarantine site for a plague and allegedly built on human remains.
Poveglia, a small island off the coast of Venice, Italy, has a dark and unsettling past. Known as one of the "creepiest" places in Italy, the island served as a quarantine station during plague outbreaks and later as a mental hospital. Despite this, a local group, Poveglia per Tutti, is working to transform the island into an urban park[1].
The group, which has raised over €460,000, plans to regenerate the northern part of the island into a lagoon urban park[1]. They aim to create a symbol of communal asset management and provide a green space for locals, countering Venice’s population decline and intense tourism pressure. Community involvement and volunteer support are essential elements of this initiative[1].
The first phase of redevelopment will cost approximately €300,000[1]. The group is working with the University of Verona to assess the social impact and develop a model for community-managed public spaces. The University's involvement was crucial in securing the lease from the Italian national land agency[1]. The group will pay just over €1,000 a year for the renewable lease.
One of the key features of the project will be the reintroduction of appropriate plants in the kitchen garden[1]. However, tourists are still banned from setting foot on Poveglia due to crumbling derelict buildings. A €5 (£4.40) access charge has been levied to deter tourists, but it has not significantly reduced the number of visitors[1].
Venice, a major tourist attraction, sees an estimated 30 million people visiting every year. The migration of locals to the mainland and the deaths of an aging population have caused Venice's population to drop by around 10,000 in the past decade. The current population stands at 48,342 people. In 2021, cruise ships were banned from arriving in Venice, forcing them to dock on the mainland or at other locations[1].
The mayor of Venice, Brugnaro, who is being investigated for corruption, has expressed his support for the group[1]. The transformation of Poveglia into an urban park is a hopeful step towards a greener and more sustainable future for Venice and its residents.
[1] Source: The Guardian, "Venice island Poveglia to become urban park in community-led project", 25th February 2023.
The group intends to develop environmental-science initiatives within the urban park, focusing on the restoration of the home-and-garden area, including the reintroduction of appropriate plants in the kitchen garden. The reintroduction of these plants is part of a larger goal to promote a lifestyle that fosters a connection between the community and the environment.
