9 haunted hotels in Italy you can actually book

When it comes to anything to do with ghosts or the paranormal, I’m usually the first to run and hide.

But when traveling, I take on a different — and dare I say — braver persona. Rather than shy away from visiting places known for their haunted reputations, I’m usually the one suggesting a visit.

Learning about the history, and the creepy backstories (while in the company of others), makes for a very enjoyable outing.

Haunted hotels, on the other hand, are a completely different category. While I’m not entirely sure I could spend a night in one, I wouldn’t say no to a visit.

But, if you’re a braver person than me, one of these haunted hotels in Italy may just peak your interest.
Guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine, these places are available to book all-year round, not just for Halloween.

A few examples of alleged haunted places in Italy that we’ve visited have included:

• Teatro Massimo in Palermo (the haunted staircase that we visited on our 2 days in Palermo. The theater also happens to be one of The Godfather filming locations in Sicily)
• Ca’Dario in Venice, one of several spooky buildings to spend Halloween in Italy

Some unique travel ideas to add to your Italy bucket list, use this post to plan your Italy trip.

9 best haunted hotels in Italy

1. Castello della Castelluccia, Lazio

Looking for haunted hotels in Rome? Look no further than Castello della Castelluccia.

Located in the Roman countryside, the glorious green scenery is the perfect backdrop for the medieval castle. Welcoming guests since the 12th century, Castello della Castelluccia has hosted everyone from popes and royalty to well-known personalities.

What makes Castello della Castelluccia one of the most haunted hotels in Italy is that it’s not far from Nero's tomb. Rumors of ghostly sightings and sounds are said to be courtesy of the Roman Emperor who haunts the hotel’s grounds.

Breaking balloons

Legend has it that Nero’s tomb was broken during an event celebrating Napoleon as King of Italy. What impacted his tomb? A balloon similar to the size of Napoleon’s Coronation balloon which was designed by Pope Pius VII.

Since then, there have been stories of the awoken and disgruntled emperor wandering around the castle grounds.

Aside from Nero, the hotel has also reported incidences of guests receiving visits from the ghost of an alchemist. After being struck by lightning while in the castle’s central tower, he’s been sighted in several of the rooms.

Fancy spotting the ghost of Nero or the wandering alchemist? Book a night or two at Castello della Castelluccia and find out for yourself.

Castello della Castelluccia, Via Carlo Cavina, 40, Rome

2. Castello Bevilacqua, Veneto

In wondrous and romantic Verona is one castle renowned for more than its history.

Construction of Castello Bevilacqua began in the 14th century by Guglielmo Bevilacqua but was completed by his son Francesco.

In 1848, the Austrian army invaded Italy, torching Castello Bevilacqua and killing its then count, Alessandro Bevilacqua, in the process.

Scattering the count’s ashes to the wind, the grounds of Bevilacqua became his final resting place. Since that day, tales of sights and sounds of the slain count have been reported within the fortress’ walls.

Still defending his home from outsiders, listen out for the count’s wailing among the trees of the hanging garden.

A fairytale castle

Spooky tales aside, a stay at Relais Castello Bevilacqua is your chance to experience an authentic medieval castle in Verona.

A 4-star hotel, the castle’s 7 junior suites embrace its historic past but with plenty of modern touches added in. Each suite comes with a four-poster bed, renaissance style decor and corner whirlpool tubs.

Sounds good? Book your stay at Relais Castello Bevilacqua and tick off a unique hotel on your travel bucket list.

Castello Bevilacqua, Via Roma, 50, Verona

3. Hotel Burchianti, Tuscany

At the top of the list of haunted hotels in Florence is Hotel Burchianti.

Located in the heart of Florence, the hotel’s just a 5-minute walk from the city’s iconic Duomo. Alongside its prime location, magnificent frescoes and stunning views, Hotel Burchianti also has many spooky sightings to report.

Unlike the other haunted hotels in Italy on this list, Hotel Burchianti has no backstory attached to a historical figure/event.

Instead, the stories rotate around different characters and locations. Ghosts of children running through the halls, maids (apparitions) cleaning the hotel or ladies knitting in chairs.

At the beginning

Hotel Burchianti first opened its doors in 1919 by the Burchianti sisters. Operating as a guesthouse, the sisters welcomed a range of guests, spanning from international students to poets and politicians.

One of the hotel’s most defining features are the frescoed walls and ceilings. The original works date to the 15th and 16th century and add a Florentine touch to this boutique hotel.

Icy breathing

To experience a truly spine-tingling stay at Hotel Burchianti, consider staying in one of their junior suites.

Beautifully-decorated rooms, frescoed walls and ceilings and modern comforts await, but so too does something more unsettling.

Some previous guests have reported ‘icy breathing’ on their face while they slept and the feeling they were being watched.

Easily one of the most haunted hotels in Italy, check into Hotel Burchianti and see if the stories are true.

Hotel Burchianti, Via del Giglio, 8, Florence

Map: 9 most haunted hotels in Italy

4. Relais all'Ussero a Villa di Corliano, Tuscany

In the province of Pisa (Tuscany) is a historic villa that dates to the 15th century. Surrounded by the iconic Tuscan landscape, Villa di Corliano has maintained many of its features from the Renaissance period.

Inside, are well-preserved frescoes painted by Andrea Boscoli and Nicola Matraini — 2 prominent artists of the time. Also enclosed within the villa’s original walls is a chapel, stables, an oil mill and a large park.

Ghouls and full moons

At the heart of the haunted activity is Teresa Scolastica della Seta Gaetani Bocca, the villa owners’ daughter. She lived there between the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. The daughter of a prominent Tuscan family, she’d a strong connection to Relais all'Ussero a Villa di Corliano.

So strong was her connection, that she refused to let go, even after her death.

Various witnesses have reported ghostly sightings of the woman in the presence of a full moon. Additional reports of strange noises and footsteps in the main hall and rooms have also been noted.

A beautiful location in Pisa

Villa di Corliano is located a few kilometers from San Giuliano Terme in the province of Pisa. A thriving B&B, with the excellent osteria all'Ussero within the grounds, it’s a beautiful property to experience.

Over the centuries, the villa has hosted European royalty, writers, poets and political figures. One such writer was Mary Shelley. Sources say that she took inspiration for her masterpiece, Frankenstein, from an incident that took place at Villa di Corliano.

Shelley was inspired by the story of a surgeon that carried out tests on the human body in the basement. The doctor, Francesco Vacca Berlinghieri, used electrical impulses to make the body’s muscles move.

It’s unknown whether Shelley based Frankenstein’s name on the doctor, Francesco, but you can’t help but wonder….

Want to experience one of the most haunted hotels in Italy first hand? Book a night or 2 at Relais all'Ussero a Villa di Corliano.

Villa di Corliano, Via Statale Abetone 50 Località Corliano, Pisa

5. Castello Malaspina di Fosdinovo, Tuscany

The third Tuscan haunted hotel in Italy comes in the form of another castle, Castello Malaspina di Fosdinovo.

Dating to the 12th century, the castle located in the north of Tuscany is the setting of this tragic tale.

Star-crossed love story

If there’s any kind of ghost story that grabs my attention, it’s one where true love is involved.

When 16-year-old Bianca Maria Aloisia fell in love with a stable boy, her father, the Marquis, was none too pleased. Using all means necessary to put an end to their relationship, he resorted to locking her away.

The room in the castle had no windows or doors, with only a dog and a boar for company. Bianca eventually died a few years after being in solitary confinement. Today, you can still see marks imprinted on the roof in the room where she died.

Various sightings have since been reported of a young girl wandering through the castle. During a full moon, listen out for Bianca, as her spirit roams through the walls of Castello Malaspina di Fosdinovo.

Though one of the most haunted hotels in Italy, the rooms are beautifully decorated and steeped in centuries of history. A stay at Castello Malaspina di Fosdinovo is worth taking a closer look.

Castello Malaspina di Fosdinovo, Via Papiriana, 2, Fosdinovo, Tuscany

6. Hotel Villa Traiano, Campania

With a location known as the ‘city of witches’, you’d expect nothing less than some spooky tales in Benevento.

And, it’s the city in Campania where we find our next haunted hotel in Italy, Hotel Villa Traiano.

Housed in a 19th century villa, this refurbished boutique hotel is situated in the heart of the historic center. Some of Benevento’s top sights, the Arco di Traiano and the Rocca dei Rettori are a few minutes’ walk away.

Unlike the previous hotels’ reporting of strange sights and sounds, Hotel Villa Traiano is a little different. It doesn’t have a specific backstory or historic past. Instead, the hotel was rumored to have once been populated by witches.

In a time long gone, witches would meet at the nearby River Sabato to carry out demonic pagan rites.

The full history of the witches’ connection to Benevento is unknown. But, its association was enough to name one of the city’s most popular products, Strega Liqeur, in its honor.

Villa Traiano Hotel, Viale dei Rettori, 9, Benevento

7. Castello Dal Pozzo, Piedmont

Overlooking the splendid Lake Maggiore, Castello Dal Pozzo sits in the village of Oleggio Castello.

Its beauty and tranquil surroundings are somewhat overshadowed when you hear the star-crossed tale of Barbara and Matteo.

In 1467, a young captain, Matteo, is sent by the Duke of Milan to prepare for an ensuing battle. On arrival in the village, he’s hosted in the castle by nobleman Alberto Visconti and his wife.

Star-crossed lovers part II

It’s here where he first meets their 15-year-old daughter, Barbara, and the two are immediately smitten. As a relationship grows, they seal their fidelity to each other with a kiss in the castle’s chapel. Unbeknownst to Matteo, Barbara has already promised to the son of a lord.

An argument ensues between Barbara and her father the day after Matteo leaves for battle upon discovering their relationship. Furious, Alberto takes Barbara to the tower, locking her away so she’s unable to escape (sound familiar?).

After not hearing from Matteo for weeks after his departure, the sadness and desperation eventually got to Barbara. She died in the tower, her wails and cries reverberating through the fortress.

Since then, shadows of a girl peering out the tower window have been spotted. Is it a figment of someone’s imagination, or Barbara still waiting for Matteo to return…?

A 5-star hotel overlooking my favorite lake in Italy, Castello dal Pozzo is more than its ghostly tale. Its 45 rooms are the right blend of historic elegance and modern luxury.

With an open-air pool and private park, book your stay at Castello dal Pozzo and enjoy a rare castle experience.

Castello Dal Pozzo, Via Visconti, 8, Novara

8. Castello di Sorci, Tuscany

Surrounded by the picturesque greenery of the Tuscan countryside is the striking Castello di Sorci.

Located in Anghiari, in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, the 12th century castle was a summer residence of Baldaccio d'Anghiari. A prominent leader of the army, his rising reputation was feared by many, including banker and politician Cosimo de’ Medici.

Threatened by his growing popularity, an order was placed to execute Baldaccio. He was killed on 6 September 1441 in Palazzo Vecchio. His body was cruelly thrown out of the window, after which his head was cut off.

While Baldaccio didn’t die in Anghiari, spooky sightings have been recorded in Castello di Sorci. Every year on the night of 6 September, an apparition is said to appear, carrying a head under his arm.

If this doesn’t make Castello di Sorci one of the most haunted hotels in Italy, I don’t know what does.

A hotel remembers

According to the website, there are just 3 rooms to book at Castello di Sorci.

The ‘Stanza di Annalena’ was named after Baldaccio’s widow. Annalena became the owner of the exquisite Boboli Gardens in Florence after her husband’s untimely death.

Castello di Sorci, Anghiari

9. Ostello 7 Santi, Tuscany

The fifth haunted hotel in Tuscany on the list and the second in Florence comes courtesy of Ostello 7 Santi. What looks like a standard hostel on the outside has a dark backstory when you dig a little deeper.

Ostello 7 Santi is a hostel housed in a 19th century former convent. However, rather than scenes of nuns living in peaceful harmony, this convent was anything but. In its rooms and its (then) dungeons, many people were tortured and killed.

Since then, strange wailing sounds have been reported, many theorizing they’re the tortured souls of the dead.

Though a good choice for budget travelers visiting Florence, does the price of Ostello 7 Santi outweigh the rumors? I’ll let you decide.

Ostello 7 Santi, Viale dei Mille, 11, Florence

What are your thoughts on these haunted hotels in Italy? Are you brave enough to stay at one of these haunted hotels in Italy? Let me know in the comments below.

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