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In the Venetian lagoon sits Poveglia Island, a small, unpopulated landmass cut down the middle by a canal. For all its unassuming appearance, however, it has a dark history and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Europe, a continent saturated with tales of ghosts and the paranormal.Many of those ghosts came courtesy of the Black Death, which swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing off millions of people and cutting the entire population of some cities in half in a matter of months or even weeks. And the bubonic plague didnt stop after the famous outbreak of 1348.Instead, it reappeared again and again for centuries.Luigi Tiriticco/FlickrA photograph showing the only standing buildings on Poveglia Island.In Venice Europes dominant trading port during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance officials took advantage of the Venetian lagoons islands to isolate and manage its plague outbreaks. For centuries, Poveglia Island was Venices solution to the plague: An isolated quarantine site where victims of the plague were sent after infection with few ever leaving the island again.The small island, just 17 acres, housed over 160,000 plague victims through the centuries and officials did more than just quarantine the sick and soon to die. They burned the corpses to stop the spread of the disease and it is said that human ash from these cremations make up more than 50 percent of the islands soil, even centuries later. It sounds like Hell, just in northern Italy.The History Of Poveglia IslandThe picturesque Venetian Lagoon houses 166 islands, including a small island directly south of the Piazza San Marco. Known as Poveglia Island, the small dot of land has housed people since at least the fifth century when Romans escaped Goth and Hun invasions by fleeing to more defensible islands in the lagoon.Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg/Universittsbibliothek HeidelbergA 1572 map of Venice showing the many islands of the lagoon.As Venice grew into a major power, Poveglia became an important defensive location. In the 14th century, the Venetians built a fort on the island, establishing an outpost that could destroy enemy ships that tried to reach the city of Venice. But when bubonic plague ravaged Europe, Poveglia Island became the quickest and eventually permanent solution to the outbreak: it became an important quarantine site for plague victims as early as the 16th century. Paul Frst/Wikimedia CommonsA 17th century plague doctor.In addition to quarantining plague victims on Poveglia, the island also became a gigantic mass grave for the corpses of the dead. Barges from Venice hauled the dead to the island, while smaller ships brought exiles from the city who showed even the mildest symptoms of plague. On Poveglia Island, plague victims spent forty days waiting to see if they would die or recover. Most died. The Venetians cremated untold thousands of bodies on Poveglia, leaving the ashy remains of plague victims to fall where they may.Containing The Plague Through QuarantinesWhen the deadliest outbreak of bubonic plague, Black Death, struck Europe in 1348, Venice created the first modern quarantine system. The republic detained ships and travelers suspected of carrying the plague for a period of forty days the word quarantine itself comes from the Italian quaranta, or forty.Although plague quarantines were largely ineffective, the desperate need to stop the spread of disease drove other areas to adopt the practice. During a reappearance of the bubonic plague in 1374, the Duke of Milan exiled all plague sufferers to a field outside the city. On the Dalmatian coast, Ragusa created a quarantine station to isolate people from plague-ravaged areas. Marseilles created a maritime quarantine in the early 16th century, while 17th-century Frankfurt banned anyone living in a plague-afflicted house from attending public gatherings. In colonial New York, the city council set up a quarantine station on the island that now houses the Statue of Liberty.Unknown/Wellcome ImagesA plague house to quarantine victims in Leiden.Venices Lazaretti System Of Plague Quarantine StationsThe Black Death devastated Venices population in 1348, killing half of its citizens. As Venice was a hub for international trade, it welcomed ships from around the known world, making the island republic especially susceptible to the spread of disease.As bubonic plague ravaged Europe for centuries, Venice responded by creating a network of lazaretti, or plague quarantine stations, on the islands of the lagoon. Poveglia Island became the most important of these inspection ports by the 18th century. In 1485, Venices ruler, Giovanni Mocenigo, died from another outbreak of the plague which spurred the city to create several quarantine colonies on isolated islands. When plague struck the town, everybody sick or showing any suspect symptoms were restricted on the island until they recovered or died, explains anthropologist Luisa Gambaro.On Lazzaretto Vecchio, an island northeast of Poveglia Island, the number of corpses soon overwhelmed the citys capacity to bury them. Archaeologist Vincenzo Gobbo said: About 500 people a day used to die in Lazzaretto Vecchio. [Corpse carriers] simply had no time to take care of the burials.Angelo Meneghini/Wikimedia CommonsVines grow over the buildings still standing on Poveglia Island.It looked like hell, wrote 16th-century chronicler Rocco Benedetti. The sick lay three or four in a bed.When plague victims died, they were thrown into mass graves. Workers collected the dead and threw them in the graves all day without a break, Benedetti recorded. Often the dying ones and the ones too sick to move or talk were taken for dead and thrown on the piled corpses.From the 16th century on, Poveglia Island housed plague victims and there many breathed their last and were cremated or buried in mass graves. But the island became even more important in Venices epidemic prevention plans in the 18th century. In 1777, Venices Magistrate of Health turned Poveglia Island into its primary plague checkpoint. Any ship sailing to Venice had to stop at Poveglia first for an inspection. If any sailor showed signs of plague, Venice quarantined them on Poveglia Island. Giacomo Guardi/Metropolitan Museum of ArtBritish ships undergoing inspection on Poveglia Island, c. 1800.Poveglia Island Mental HospitalPoveglia Island remained an important plague quarantine site until 1814 and owing to its haunting legacy as the citys go-to quarantine station for the plague, Venetians began calling Poveglia Island the Island of Ghosts.Theodor Weyl/Wikimedia CommonsLate-19th century visitors to Poveglia Island found plague equipment.Adding to the Poveglia islands dark history, in 1922, Venetians transformed the island by building a mental hospital there. Naturally, rumors soon spread that a doctor at the hospital carried out morbid experiments on his patients, only to reportedly died after falling from a bell tower on the island.The hospital closed its doors in 1968, leaving Poveglia Island once again abandoned. Not surprisingly, stories of plague victims and now abused psychiatric patients haunting Poveglia Island continue to this today. In 2014, Venice unsuccessfully tried to auction off the island but the deal fell through and the islands status remains in limbo. Today, the Island of Ghosts is completely off-limits to visitors. Why anyone would want to visit such a place is anyones guess.Now that youve read the story of Poveglia Island in the Venetian lagoon, learn more about plague doctors and their unusual costume for combatting the notorious disease. Then read about the most haunted places on Earth.The post Inside Poveglia Islands History Of Death And Madness appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Pablo Escobar and his son, Juan Pablo Escobar, in front of the White House. Circa 1981.Pablo Escobar and White House dont seem like they belong in the same sentence. Yet theres a surprising photo of the infamous drug kingpin posing in front of the White House with his son, looking like a tourist in his white shirt and blank pants. So whats the story behind the Pablo Escobar White House photo?Read on to learn how Pablo Escobar came to pose in front of the White House and, around the same time, take his family to Disney World.The Rise Of Pablo EscobarBy 1981 the year that most believe that the Pablo Escobar White House photo was taken the drug kingpin was not as notorious as he would later become.Born in 1949 in Colombia, Pablo Escobar grew up in a suburb near Medelln. After starting as a petty thief stealing cars and reselling stolen tombstones, Escobar became involved in the nascent Colombian cocaine industry. It was a family affair Escobars cousin Gustavo Gaviria and brother Roberto were also involved and Pablo soon consolidated power.In the 1970s, Pablo Escobar helped establish what would become the Medelln Cartel. By the mid-1980s, Escobars cartel would dominate the drug trade and pull in some $420 million a week. This would eventually give Escobar the eye-watering estimated net worth of over $30 billion.But in the late 1970s, Escobar was not as wealthy and powerful as hed later become. In addition to growing his cartel, Escobar was focused on his growing family. Escobar married his wife, Maria Victoria Henao, in 1976 and had two children with her: Juan Pablo Escobar and Manuela Escobar. YouTubePablo Escobar with his wife and two children in an undated photo.And like any well-off family, the Escobars planned a trip together in the 1980s. They would go to the United States and visit famous landmarks. There, Maria would snap a photo of Pablo Escobar at the White House.The Story Behind The Pablo Escobar White House PhotoBy the time Pablo Escobar and his family traveled to the United States, the drug kingpin was on a mission to legitimize himself. He was on Medllins city council, and would go on to win an alternate seat in the countrys Congress in 1982.PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock PhotoPablo Escobar was trying to legitimize himself in the early 1980s and was, indeed, seen as a Robin Hood figure to many Colombians.Escobar may have used a diplomatic passport or possibly even a fake passport in order to get into the country with his family. That said, the United States didnt view him as a great threat at the time. The War on Drugs was unofficially launched in the 1970s under President Richard Nixon, but not expanded until President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981.At the onset of the decade, Escobar and his cartel werent yet seen as an important enemy. So Escobar, his wife, and two children were able to enter the United States without much difficulty in 1981. There, they acted like tourists. Though details of the Escobar family trip are somewhat murky, they appear to have made at least two stops: in Washington D.C. and in Orlando, Florida. In the nations capital, Maria took a photo of Juan Pablo and Pablo Escobar in front of the White House. Juan Pablo is seen hanging off the railing as his father casts a protective glance down, one hand on his sons arm.The family also made their way to Disney World in Orlando, where Pablo Escobar was photographed looking like any other dad dragged to the theme park. Newsweek reports that Escobar even agreed to face his fear of roller coasters in order to go on certain rides with Juan Pablo. Pablo Escobar at Disney World in 1981.The Escobar familys trip to the United States passed without serious incident Newsweek reports that Escobar made sure of that by hiring a bodyguard and they returned to Colombia. There, Pablo Escobars drug cartel would soon grow dramatically more powerful.But it wouldnt last. The Downfall Of The Infamous Drug KingpinAfter his trip to the White House, Pablo Escobars power and wealth grew. Living by the mantra of plata o plomo, which roughly translates to silver or lead (bullets), he and his cartel murdered police, politicians, journalists, and innocent citizens in order to consolidate their hold on the cocaine trade. Escobar eventually controlled about 80 percent of the worlds cocaine trade, which brought him great wealth. He had a sprawling, opulent home called Hacienda Napoles, where Escobar kept his infamous pet hippos. And when Escobar went to prison in 1991, he did so on his own terms. Then, Escobar entered a prison in Medelln that he had designed himself called La Catedral. Unlike most prisons, La Catedral had a sauna, a jacuzzi, a billiards room, and a disco. And unlike most prisoners, Escobar was able to continue conducting cartel business from behind bars. JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty ImagesOne of Pablo Escobars hippos.Perhaps its not surprising, then, that Escobar managed to escape from La Catedral in 1992. His flight triggered a massive, nationwide manhunt. Escobar was pursued both by a group called the Search Bloc, a Colombian police unit, and Los Pepes, which was comprised of Escobars enemies.The Legacy Of Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar was finally cornered 16 months after he escaped from prison. The drug kingpin was killed on Dec. 2, 1933, while fleeing from Colombian authorities along rooftops in the Los Olivos barrio of Medelln.With that, Escobars life ended. But his legacy has continued to loom large. Not only has his story been dramatized in films and television shows like Netflixs Narcos, but Escobar remains a fascinating figure. Its no wonder that the Pablo Escobar White House photo is a subject of interest to many.In the picture, theres little sign of who Escobar actually was. He looks like a tourist and a dutiful father, keeping one eye on his young son as they stand before an American landmark. In the photo, the truth of Escobars identity as cartel leader, murderer, and more is difficult to discern.After reading about the Pablo Escobar White House photo, discover the incredible story behind the prize-winning Kiss of Life photo. Or read about the Calvine photo, thought to be the clearest picture ever taken of a UFO.The post The Surprising Truth Behind The Pablo Escobar White House Photo appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Paranormal activity, demonic presences, bone-chilling screams, and so much more are said to linger in these haunted places around the world. Some have claimed to see ghosts on the grounds, while others have said that they simply feel their presence and know that theyre not alone.Some of these sites have long histories of hauntings and others have shorter ones, but all of them are unquestionably frightening. And after learning the full tales of these supposedly haunted places, even the biggest non-believers may think twice before daring to enter one of them.Raynham Hall: A Haunted Place In Norfolk, EnglandWikimedia CommonsA photo of the alleged ghost that haunts Raynham Hall. First published in Country Life in 1936.Nestled in the countryside of Norfolk, England, Raynham Hall was originally built by a wealthy politician named Sir Roger Townshend. It has been in the Townshend family for about 300 years.But the hall is also the setting for one of the most famous alleged ghost photos ever taken which depicts a white figure descending a set of stairs. In 1936, the apparition was captured on camera by photographers from the British magazine Country Life. And the image immediately caused a stir.Known as the Brown Lady, this ghostly woman is named for the color of her dress, which she is said to always be wearing. As for the identity of the Brown Lady, no one is quite sure who she is.Wikimedia CommonsA view of Raynham Hall from the outside. The mystery dates back to as early as 1835 when guests present at a Christmas party in Raynham Hall said that they had witnessed an apparition dressed in brown. These sightings ran rampant throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. And the hall gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in England as some tried to guess who the ghost was.Some legends say that she is the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole, the sister of Robert Walpole, who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. While she was alive, Lady Dorothy Walpole was married to Charles Townshend who was a notoriously cruel man with a hot temper.He reportedly accused his wife of adultery and then locked her away inside the home. He also forbade her from having any contact with the outside world and even barred her from seeing their children.In 1725, Lady Dorothy Walpole supposedly died and a funeral was prepared for her. But many believe that her death was falsely reported and that she actually lived for many years as a prisoner of her own husband. And, if the legends are to be believed, she still roams the halls of Raynham to this day.The Myrtles Plantation: A Haunted Place In St. Francisville, LouisianaWikimedia CommonsMyrtles Plantation is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the world.Constructed in 1796 by General David Bradford, the Myrtles Plantation is home to centuries of history and, allegedly, its fair share of ghosts that make it one of the most haunted places in the world.Upon his death, Bradford gifted the plantation to his daughter and her husband, Clarke Woodruff. The couple did not have a happy life inside the home and were faced with many losses while they were there. Of the three children that the couple had, only one survived to adulthood.Tragically, the most famous ghost reportedly roaming the plantation is a girl named Chloe who was enslaved by the Woodruffs. Some legends claim that Clarke Woodruff pursued an affair with her, while other stories say that he or his wife had her ear chopped off for the crime of eavesdropping. The stories vary, but some say that Chloe was hungry for revenge and ready to kill her abusers so she poisoned some of their food. Others say that she simply wanted to make them very sick so that she could nurse them back to health. That way, she could be guaranteed a place working in the Woodruffs home and not out in the fields like other slaves.Either way, the amount of poison in the food was enough to kill Mrs. Woodruff and two of her children. And when the Woodruffs other slaves found out, they were so terrified of what Mr. Woodruff would do that they hanged Chloe themselves. They then tossed her body into a river. PinterestA photo of the alleged ghost of Chloe haunting the Myrtles Plantation.Despite the violent death of Chloe, its said that her spirit lived on and haunts the property to this day.In the 1970s, another family, the Meyers, purchased the home and decided to open it up as a bed and breakfast for visitors. And almost immediately, strange things started happening around the house.Several guests claimed to hear odd noises, and some also said they saw the spirit of Chloe in and around the home. And a few even claimed that they have captured Chloes spirit in a photograph.But Chloe isnt the only one who people have claimed to see in the home. Some say theyve seen the ghosts of the Woodruffs children in the mirror near the room where they were supposedly poisoned. And others have said that theyve seen young girls in antebellum clothing in the windows.To make matters even eerier, a total of 10 murders have allegedly happened on the property throughout the years. However, many of these killings are believed to be mostly based on legend. But if you would like to figure out for yourself whether this is one of Americas most haunted places, the plantation is still open today as a bed and breakfast.The post 11 Of The Most Haunted Places In The World That Are Not For The Faint Of Heart appeared first on All That's Interesting.