Witches, ghosts, and Tarot… it’s easy to see why Venice spooks a few people out. But for those of us interested in spirituality, it’s a place with lots to offer. Venice is home to centuries of mystical, occult, and spiritual folklore.
A Haunted Island?
Look out towards the tree-covered Poveglia Island, and you’d never believe that so many traumatic events have happened there in the past. Events that contributed to Venice’s ghostly reputation…
Now abandoned, the small island was once a place for plague victims to live out their final days away from the rest of the Venetian population.
What was the beautiful vineyard, soon became the cremation ground. Later, the island became home to a mental hospital, with suggestions that the patients were experimented on by a doctor, who himself went mad.
These days, tourists are not allowed to visit the island without special permission. People report hearing strange sounds and bells ringing, along with a feeling of being ‘on edge’. I’m not surprised. All that trauma, illness and death would have left a big energetic imprint on the tiny island.
Venice Has An Occult Past
Back on Venice’s mainland, the spirit of Giordano Bruno, an occultist who was burned at the stake by the Romans accusing him of heresy, is supposed to wander around spooking people.
Another spirit, that of Giuseppe Zolli, was said to regularly scare members of the public and the Venetian police until he was appeased by having a statue erected in his honour… right next to a statue of the general he swore to protect.
Not all the ghosts of Venice scare the living. The Palazzo Grassi, now an art museum, is said to be ‘haunted’ by a friendly female ghost who once saved the life of a night watchman.
Venice is a place that naturally connects you to the world of spirit. It has a mysterious feel to it, which seems to somehow speak to your soul.
The Tarot Witches of Venice’s Past
You’ll also hear plenty of tales about witchcraft in Venice. In the 1500s (when Tarot started to become popular in Italy), a trial took place in which some so-called witches were associated with Tarot by their accusers.
Nonetheless, Tarot grew in popularity, and today you can pop into the traditional Italian tobacconists and pick up a rare Tarot deck or two.
Venice even has its own Tarot deck, designed in 1980, which captures moments from Venice’s fascinating history in its design.
Venice is a Place For Exploring Spirituality and Your Gifts
As you can see, there are many reasons why as a medium and Tarot master, I am drawn to the energy of Venice.
Each year, I run The Tarot Retreat at a stunning Venetian venue. You can find out more about this event here, or email my team to get on the waitlist for the next event.
Comments