It’s human nature to always want to go where you’re not permitted to go. Kids do it and adults do it. A “no entry” sign is enough of an incentive for someone to trespass. Well, maybe, after you see some destinations on our list, you may change your mind.
Today, we countdown 15 places you’re not allowed to visit. Some could interest you to visit, but most will scare the living daylights out of you.
Slap on your praetorian guard armor, grab your weapon of choice and let’s check out these places.
Surtsey, Iceland
By now most of us know that no matter how curious people get, there are places they will never allow us to step foot in.
Surtsey is a piece of land that formed in 1963, after a huge volcanic eruption that lasted for 3 years. Now, the land is used for scientific research and observations.
The focus of the work is to better understand how an ecosystem forms from scratch, with no human impact.
There are only two scientists that are allowed on the island’s premises, making it one of a few forbidden places on earth.
One of the main stories that surround this island revolves around a tomato. Yes, you heard right, a tomato. Before entering the island, every person needs to be searched thoroughly because one of the main rules is not to bring any seeds with you.
Well, someone did not pay close enough attention to this rule and pooped on some lava. After that, a tomato plant sprouted up on the island, leaving the scientists truly mystified.
After they realized the origin of the plant they immediately destroyed it, as it would disturb their scientific research. You say “Tomaato” and I say Tomato!
Poveglia, Italy
Poveglia was constructed on a permanent fortification built by the Venetian government and from 1793 to 1814 it was a plague quarantine station, or “lazaretto”—one of many in the Venetian lagoon.
They say the tiny island to have hosted over 160,000 infected souls living out their last days and hours there—so many that there are whispers that 50 percent of the soil comprises human remains.
Recently, mass graves have been found on the nearby islands containing the remains of thousands of plague victims.
Poveglia has yet to be fully investigated. Finding the location of Poveglia to be small and easily missed, Napoleon also used the island for a darker purpose, storing weapons there.
The location was discovered, and many minor battles took place as the island claimed even more lives.
In 1922, they opened a mental hospital on Poveglia. Local legend says that one doctor at the hospital tortured and killed many of his patients, butchering them horribly, only to later die by falling from, or possibly being thrown off of, its bell tower.
The hospital closed in 1968, and the ruins are still there, slowly being reclaimed by greenery. While they profess it to be a former retirement home, evidence that it housed mental patients is still evident.
With a past like this, it’s not surprising that Poveglia is believed to be haunted, attracting the attention of ghost hunters and paranormal investigators. Poveglia remains for now strictly off-limits to visitors.
