The world's scariest island is now for sale

Dubbed the world's most haunted isle, the seemingly peaceful 17-acre Italian island of Poveglia in the Venetian lagoon is being auctioned off online next month in a bid to slash the government's debts.

Used in the 18thC as a quarantine for those dying of the plague (the ghosts of whom are still rumored to haunt the island today), Poveglia later housed a hospital for the elderly where, legend has it, experiments were conducted on mentally ill patients. Apparently, even the hospital's director was tormented (by ghosts), eventually jumping off its tower to his death. With the exception of intrepid ghost-seekers and foolhardy TV hosts, the island's been abandoned since the hospital closed in 1968.

While the Italian government, which'll technically still own the island once it sells, would love to see it turned into a plush resort, no asking price has yet been set. So you still have time to balance your checkbook and get your finances in order.

Chloe Pantazi is an editorial assistant on Thrillist's travel team. Follow her to her Twitter island at @ChloePantazi.