Halloween in Italy isn’t celebrated in the same way it is in America. Although kids do dress up and organize Halloween parties, they don’t go trick-o-treating and houses aren’t usually decorated to scare anyone passing by. But, we aren’t going to let that stop us from getting into the Halloween spirit and evoking a little spookiness into our lives.
Napoli Underground
We love Napoli! It’s the type of place that you visit, and it instantly draws you in. Maybe it’s the organized chaos of its streets, the uniqueness of its neighborhoods or the friendliness of its people. But, did you know that about 40 meters beneath the lively streets of Naples is a whole other world? The first traces of this underground network date back to 5,000 years ago – at the end of the prehistoric period. It was than further carved out by the Greeks and the tufa stones that were extracted were used to create the city walls of Naples. Then the Romans came in and created an ancient aqueduct that spans over 400 km. And, during the Second World War, the underground caverns were used as bomb shelters.
What makes this excursion spooky? Well, as you make your way down the 136 steps into the caverns, you will feel the damp humid air on your skin and although it’s not dark, you can’t help but think how far underground you are and just how long these caverns have existed. You will test your fear of tight closed spaces and for a small portion of the tour (which is optional) you will be guided through the tunnels with just a candle to light your way. This is a great experience, not to be missed when visiting Naples.
Palermo Catacombs
You can find catacombs throughout Italy, but what makes the catacombs in Palermo so interesting is the sheer size of it. The catacombs were originally burial crypts for Capuchin monks in the 16th century but its purpose changed, and it became a place for the great and good to be mummified and laid to rest. It’s said to be one of the largest collections of mummies in the world. You’ll spend hours walking through the catacombs amongst the mummified bodies, in varying states of preservation. The most recent addition was two-year-old Rosalia Lombardo, in 1920, who is almost perfectly preserved, apart from a yellowy tinge to her skin.
The catacombs aren’t as scary as they sound, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if you get goosebumps as you spend time amongst the dead.
Pentedattilo
What is it about ghost towns that is so captivating? Maybe it’s the fact that they were once places so full of life that now are all but forgotten. Homes, schools, churches and squares in shambles having been left to the elements. Once thing is certain, these mysterious and eerie places are often explored by locals and tourists alike who want to explore what’s left of these once lively towns.
Pentedattilo is a ghost town situated on Monte Calvario, a mountain which once looked like a hand. In fact, the name of the town comes from the Greek words penta and daktylos, meaning “five fingers”. In 1783, an earthquake severely damaged the town and many of its inhabitants migrated to Melito Porto Salvo. The town was completely uninhabited from the mid-1960s until the 1980s when volunteers from across Europe began to restore it. As you make your way through this uniquely charming village, frozen in time, you feel an almost mysterious peace as you imagine what life was once like in this village – the shadows of its inhabitants reflected in every corner of this abandoned town.
Image credit: Sailko,Dominik Matus, Gmihail
