Would You Dare to Visit? 5 Italian Places You Can Explore Through Ghost Tours and Dark Legends

Would you enter a castle after hearing the story of a little girl who vanished within its walls? Would you walk down a narrow alley knowing what crimes were committed there? Sometimes, knowing a story is enough to transform a visit: you pause at a doorway, notice a shadowy corner and listen more closely to the sound of your own footsteps.

That is the appeal of ghost tours in Italy: exploring places where history meets tales of apparitions, disappearances and mysteries passed down through generations. You do not have to believe in ghosts to be drawn in. All it takes is curiosity and a desire to discover what lies behind a castle’s façade or along a seemingly ordinary street.

We have selected 5 spooky places you can actually visit, exploring them through tours, visits and walks that trace their darkest legends. For each destination, we explain what makes the experience atmospheric and how to plan your visit.

Which would you dare to explore first?

A nighttime visit to Montebello, a journey through the rooms of Malaspina Castle or a walk through Milan’s darker side: which experience intrigues you most? These five destinations turn legends into a reason to travel, explore and hear the stories in the very places that keep them alive.

The phenomenon of ghost tourism originated in England in the 1970s, then spread to the United States, and has recently become a huge trend in Italy. Also known as "fear tourism," it is a form of experiential tourism combining mystery and the thrill of fear, allowing visitors to visit places shrouded in legend and history where the mystery has never been solved.

Halloween can be the perfect time to embrace the eerie atmosphere, but the lure of mystery does not end in October. Depending on opening schedules, you can plan your adventure throughout the year. Each stop comes with practical visiting information and resources to help you plan: choose your destination, discover how to explore it and let your imagination accompany you.

The Malaspina Castle is located between the fascinating Tuscany and Liguria, in Fosdinovo, near Massa Carrara. Considered one of the largest and most majestic castles in the area, this ancient building has been the site of important events and battles, some even related to the Second World War. Built in the 12th century and therefore of great historical importance, the castle is now an important museum.

For centuries it was the home of the great Torrigiana and Malaspina families, its authentic background of tortures and crimes makes the castle even more astonishing. In fact, inside the castle it is possible to visit a room where there are old torture instruments.

However, there is a common legend that makes it even more famous, the one linked to the Marquise Bianca Maria Aloisia Malaspina.

The story tells of the love between Bianca and a man of a different rank who was later killed by her family. Bianca was locked up in a cell in the castle by her parents and died shortly afterwards of starvation. This story is related to the popular mystery of the castle in which the ghosts of the Marquise and the stableman seem to roam the walls of the manor. Among the most common reports such as strange noises or sightings, there is also a curious mystery linked to a pillow placed on Bianca's bed, where it is possible to hear breaths or even heartbeats.

Fiction or reality? Go take a ghost tour in the castle to find out.

To experience it for yourself, you can book a guided tour of Malaspina Castle in Fosdinovo: the route takes you through courtyards and historic rooms, including the chamber associated with the legend of Bianca Maria. Online booking is recommended; check the official calendar to choose an available date and time slot. If you want to linger in the atmosphere a little longer, the castle also offers the chance to stay overnight in its historic rooms.

Via Bagnera in Milan is one of the creepiest streets in Italy, well-known for its spooky history. It is a very narrow street and it's located right next to via Torino, in the city centre of Milan between the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the Duomo.

What undoubtedly makes a walk along this street a perfect ghost tour is the mystery related to the 19th-century story of Antonio Boggia, the first Italian serial killer, known as the 'Monster of Milan'. Boggia’s house was indeed in Via Bagnera. His poor victims were murdered in his famous basement.

To this day, it is said that it gets unusually cold when the criminal's spirit still wanders restlessly the street, where his crimes took place and whoever walks along Via Bagnera can probably feel it.

To reach Via Bagnera and enjoy this short but special scary tour, the nearest metro station is "Missori", on the yellow M3 line.

You can explore Via Bagnera on a walk through the city centre or include it in a guided tour devoted to Milan’s darker side. If you choose to explore independently, read the story of Antonio Boggia beforehand: walking through the alley takes only a moment, and knowing its history makes the stop more atmospheric. You can include it in a walking itinerary linking the Duomo and the streets around Via Torino, taking a few minutes to discover this darker corner of Milan, or choose to join a themed tour.

The Swabian Castle of Trani is one of the most important and remarkable castles in Apulia. Built for Emperor  Federico II di Svevia around the 12th century, today it is a real architectural gem. Built in order to defend the Apulian territory, the castle was also important in Frederick's time. Its position, perched on a rock overlooking the sea, offers its visitors captivating scenery.

However, the castle is also known for its mysterious and paranormal events. As in any respecting manor, there is a popular legend that makes a visit to the castle even more exciting. It is about Armida, a young woman who, after betraying her husband, was locked up in the castle dungeon. The story tells that her husband, after discovering the love affair, killed her lover and locked up Bianca in the dungeon where she died of hunger and despair.

It is assumed that the soul of the poor woman has never left the castle and is still wandering around the large rooms of the castle, looking for her beloved knight. According to some reports and sightings, the ghost of the woman appears in a dark grey dress with very long black hair. A legend that is undoubtedly perfect for an interesting and intriguing ghost tour.

To explore Trani’s Swabian Castle, follow the museum route through its rooms and courtyards, discovering traces of its former role as a prison. The legend of Armida adds an intriguing dimension to the visit, which you can combine with a walk to the nearby cathedral and along the waterfront. Before setting off, check opening days, ticket information and any guided tours or special events.

Stepping through the gates of Montebello Castle after sunset means entering a place where the story of a disappearance accompanies your exploration. In the village of Montebello, in the municipality of Poggio Torriana, inland from Rimini, you can join a nighttime guided tour devoted to the fortress’s darkest stories, paranormal investigations and the famous legend of Azzurrina.

According to the tale passed down through generations, Guendalina was a little girl with albinism, the daughter of the lord of Montebello. To conceal a trait then surrounded by superstition and fear, her mother dyed her hair: it is said to have taken on a bluish tint, earning her the nickname Azzurrina. The girl is said to have vanished inside the castle during a thunderstorm on the summer solstice in 1375, never to be found again. Since then, legend has it that every five years, on the same anniversary, her voice can once again be heard within its walls.

The most intriguing moment of the visit is listening to the sound recordings made inside the castle, which some interpret as voices or cries. What will you hear? The fascination lies in listening and drawing your own conclusions, immersed in the place that inspired the tale. Montebello is among Emilia-Romagna’s most atmospheric castles.

How to plan your visit to Montebello. The nighttime tour currently costs €15 per person, is open to visitors aged 11 and over and is primarily intended for adults. Tours start from 9:30 pm, and advance booking is required. From mid-September to the end of May, nighttime visits take place on Saturdays; more evenings are available in summer.

You can also explore the castle during the day, with a standard ticket costing €8. The route covers the castle’s history, rooms and furnishings, as well as the story of Azzurrina and the sound recordings. This makes it a good option for visitors travelling with children, too. Before setting off, check the opening times, as the schedule may change.

Between Parma and Piacenza there are many castles with curious and unusual occurrences. The Castle of Agazzano is one of these. It is located in the province of Piacenza and was founded in the 13th century. For years it was the home of the Scotti family and today the entire building, which includes the palace and the fortress, is a great architectural masterpiece, a complex that combines both medieval and classical Renaissance styles. Inside you can also admire remarkable works of art such as frescoes and antique furnitures.

Behind the castle's fascinating history and beautiful features there’s a hidden and unusual side. A strange presence inhabits the walls of the complex, it is the ghost of Pier Maria Scotti, known as "Conte Buso", a skilled and fierce knight who died at the age of forty in 1521 after an attack on the castle and whose body was never found. Legend has it that the ghost of the count, in love with his own home, never wanted to leave the manor.

Doors that open by themselves, lights that turn on and pieces of glass found for no good reason, the Castle of Agazzano offers a unique and sometimes thrilling experience. An adventure among history, art and inexplicable events.

Agazzano Castle belongs to the Castles of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Pontremoli network. To visit the complex, join a guided tour and explore the fortress and aristocratic residence, discovering fortified architecture, frescoes and period furnishings. Opening times follow a seasonal schedule, so checking availability before you travel is always recommended. To make more of your visit, we suggest a stroll through the village and a trip into the hills of the Luretta Valley.