Poveglia

Located between Venice and Lido is a tiny island called Poveglia. When traveling about Venice, you can take a water taxi to any of the local islands, with one exception. Poveglia is off limits to tourists. Its history is seeped in tragedy and dislocated spirits. During the three occasions when the plague ran rampant through Europe, the island became a death place and a place of burial for those who were either dead from the disease, or suspected of carrying it. People would be dragged forth from their homes and carried to the island where they would be left to rot. Bodies that had already died from the plague would be burned or buried in deep pits.

Over 160,000 people are said to have died here. In 1922, a psychiatric hospital was built to house those suffering from various illnesses. The mental patients began reporting that they could see the dead plague victims roaming about the hospital. The doctor of the hospital began to perform cruel experiments on his patients in order to figure out the meaning behind their visions. He would conduct lobotomies with chisels and hammers. Hacksaws and restraints still liter the crematorium. At some point the doctor himself went mad after beginning to see visions of his own. He reportedly flung himself from the bell tower. The remaining patients of the hospital took his body and sealed it inside the tower. People who pass by the area at night report hearing agonizing screams and cries. Fisherman won't fish near here because it isn't unusual to dredge up old body remnants. The “dirt” surrounding the island is claimed to be nothing more than the residual ashes of the many deceased.

The Coliseum

Scattered throughout Italy are arenas where gladiators fought ruthlessly for their lives. But none hold the wonder and awe that the Coliseum holds. It is the largest arena that housed those awaiting their fates. Thousands lost their lives here either as gladiators, or as persecuted individuals who held strongly to their religious beliefs. Animals lost their lives here as well. Many animals became extinct because of the Romans bloodlust. People who visit here often experience cold spots. Some have experienced the sensation of being pushed. Strange whisperings and crying can be heard throughout the Coliseum. The clanging of swords and the eerie discombobulated sounds of animals can be heard. Apparitions of ghostly spectators can occasionally be seen sitting amongst the seats, perhaps still waiting for a good match. Even A Roman guard has been spotted, still standing guard.

Cappuccini Catacomb of Palermo

Nothing says creepy like a bunch of dead bodies positioned in various positions and all in different forms of decomposition. It's as if they haven't realized they're deceased. Some are suspended on the walls with hooks. Some even look as if they're about to jump to life. It is a place that gives you an uneasy feeling, as if you're being watched. Some of the bodies span back hundreds of years. The most recent is a child, Rosalia Lombardo, who died in 1920. She's encased in a glass coffin, and looks like a living doll. Supposedly the corpses on the wall have been said to change their position. People have heard whistling and whisperings throughout the catacombs. If anything, it is a place you want to walk around with someone else, and it's easy to get lost. I suppose this is why the place easily freaks out some people. But if you're ever in Sicily, it's a definite must see.

Piazza Statuto

Located in Turin is the Piazza Statuto. Many criminals and innocent people were executed here during Roman times. The original piazza was outside the city walls. Since there were no cemeteries, bodies of the dead and executed were thrown over the walls. Underground the piazza lays a series of tunnels. It is said that the gates of hell exist in these tunnels. Located at the piazza is a monument that was dedicated to workers killed while building the Frejus rail tunnel linking Italy to France. Some believe that the top figure of the monument is Lucifer himself. At the bottom of the monument is a manhole cover with the words “The Gates of Hell” on it. Apparently Turin is home to many satanical worshippers, some who have supposedly practiced the dark arts, which have included human sacrifices. Some people who live here don't think twice about the rumors of dark magic. Others say they feel out of place, or that their spirits are heavy. Some even feel a sense of foreboding.

Ca'Dario

In Venice lies a house that looks as if it's about to fall into the canal. When traversing the canal in a gondola, there's no way you can miss it. The house is known locally by all as being the house of no return. It was originally built in the 15th century. Over the centuries it has seen its share of death and tragedy, and no one to date wants to buy it. It is said that the curse of the house began soon after its construction. Death has claimed the lives of 13 successive owners. Talk about an unlucky number. People who have lived here have either died from murder or suicide. Many have inquired about purchasing the house, but none have taken the offer for fear of the accursed dwelling.

The cooks and waitresses are a friendly lot who don't speak English. I like that, and the menu is fairly self explanatory anyway. The people seem to genuinely want the customers to enjoy themselves and come back for more. They seemed pleased that foreigners came in, but couldn't figure out why.

The menu is standard but extensive and certainly not expensive. I went for the set menu - an unbelievable €20 excluding wine! The wine we ordered was very affordable and more than just drinkable. I was quite chuffed with my choice.

Aperitif - a glass of champagne

Starter - a platter of cold meats, bread, cheese and the tastiest bruschetta I have ever had. Where do Italians get their tomatoes?

Next course - spaghetti (home made) with a meat sauce to die for.

Next next course - lumps of meat roasted on a spit with just enough roasted vegetables and salady bits to go with it.

This was a seriously exceptional and good value meal with no pretension.

Maybe I should have kept that to myself. Hope it's as good when I go back next year.

Aesthetically the Mole is like the Eiffel Tower - it's so ugly that it's beautiful. It's really a garden folly of epic proportions. The Jews of Turin commissioned a wacky architect to build them a synagogue way back whenever, but they took fright when they saw what he was coming up with and abandoned the project. The city fathers then took it over and today it houses a museum in praise of the development of cinema - a must see.

It's also a shrine to Gianni Agnelli (Mr Fiat). On the interior wall a spiral walkway lifts you ever higher past a photographic history of his life, and whatever politicians and statesmen he wasn't photographed with probably weren't worth meeting.

The cinematic artifacts are displayed in rooms off the main structure and are well worth the visit. All the developments in cinematography are documented starting back with lanterns making shadows on canvas screens.

In the centre (I speak British English) of the vast vault that was originally intended to house rather a lot of worshipers an elevator rises from the floor to disappear up into the spire to let passengers walk round an observation platform. This is certainly not for everybody, but the access to it is deceptive and you don't realise what the deal is until it's too late.

The elevator car is glass on all sides and holds 9 people plus operator. It takes 59 seconds to get to its destination and makes its way there when 5 improbably thin wires pull it all the way to the top.. There's no structure around the car, just these wires attached to its lid, so as it lifts the passengers eventually find them selves dangling in empty space. Definitely not for the faint-hearted. Then you have to go down the same way.

The view from the top on a good day is superb: Alps in the distance, and down below all the landmarks that you've already become familiar with. Pity about the anti-suicide fence though.

Set aside a full morning for this, especially if you want to do the museum justice, and go as early as possible (opens at 10.00) to avoid too big a queue for the elevator.

Sassi-Superga station is about 100 meters from the tram stop, and from there the cog railway runs up the steep hillside before it arrives just short of the Church, La Superga, that looks out over Turin. The ticket desk is hidden inside the restaurant. It's a cheap ride, and the restaurant itself is not expensive, though remember that the train leaves on the hour, so pace yourself accordingly, leaving enough time to enjoy whatever you order.

The ride up the hillside is slow. For eighteen minutes passengers are chugged noisily through woodland, on a hill slope that rises abruptly out of the city. The wooden-slated seats are uncomfortable, and at week-ends you might have to fight for a seat. The train and its history are interesting enough, but the main attraction is the view from the top.

The train stops at a station just below the summit and it's only a short but steep walk up to the Church from there. The inevitable Visitor Center complete with café and trinket shop and a panoramic view of its own are located at the station, and five minutes takes a reasonably fit person on up to the Church. Take your time though and enjoy it.

The Church is a Church is a Church. If you like visiting graves you have the privilege of paying to look at the tombs that hold the bones of members of the House of Savoy.

A path runs around the perimeter of the Church complex which is pleasant and shaded, and behind the Church is an interesting shrine built in honor of the members of the Turin football club who were killed in 1949 when the "plane bringing them from a game in Lisbon crashed into the hill. The shrine with its fresh flowers and family photographs of the dead shows how fresh the tragedy is in the minds of the people of Turin.

But it"s for the view that visitors make the trip. The city stretches out from the foot of the hill and it's not hard to pick out the Mole Antonelliana, the course of the Po and the Porta Nuova train station. Beyond that, over the plain, the Alps rise. If it's a clear day the mountains seem close enough to touch, with snow on top or even down the sides depending on the season. On hazier days the view is dulled but still impressive.

The trip back down to the city is the reverse experience of the ascent. The train leaves on the half hour, or if you prefer there are paths down through the woodland. It's a great place for mountain biking too. For those who can only free-wheel downhill there is the option of putting your bike on a special wagon to be hauled up the steep slope letting you return home with the wind in your face.

One thing to remember: the railway doesn't operate on Mondays and Tuesdays.

A lazy Saturday afternoon I decided to rediscover one that still distinguishes Turin: the Bicerin.

In the eighteenth century the breakfast of Turin people (who has the money to have it) was the "bavareisa"; a drink based on coffee, chocolate and milk, served in a glass. A century later, thanks to the container, a small glass with metal support and handle, will be called "Bicerin” (that means “small glass” in local language).

The ingredients of "Bicerin, always served in a glasses and very hot, are always the same: coffee, milk and chocolate.

In a small square of Turin, “piazza della Consolata”, there is an equally small local called Bicerin that saw the birth of the same-named drink; it still jealously keeps intact the traditional recipe, so I sit down and I ordered a Bicerin!

It is a boiling delicacy consisting of just made espresso, chocolate (prepared with a secret proceeding) and fresh milk cream.

So I was there sipping an hot and sweet chocolate drink, on the door of a place that was the same since the nineteen century.

On the other side of the square, I could admire the ancient walls of the Consolata modernized and redefined by Juvarra and Guarini, and built on the site of the fifth century church of St. Andrew, with its bell tower dating back to XI century.

The inscription on the top says "Consolatrix afflictorum".

But Turin people, even when they knew the Latin, have never wanted to translate it literally, for centuries, it is the “Consolà” (the comforted).

Inside there is hundreds of drawings and pictures to thank the Holy Virgin for this or that grace received; in those drawings you can read the stories of many citizens who escape from a sure death during the war or simply that were saved by lightning.

After this regeneration both in the body and spirit, we can just turn the corner to find ourself in Via Garibaldi which leads to Piazza Castello where we can admire the royal residences of Savoy.

Because of radical modifications in the early 20th century the interior structure is changed completely but what does remain is the magnificent façade.

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