All around the world, there sits buildings and structures whose secrets we'll probably never know. Who built them and why? How were they used? What have their crumbling walls witnessed?
But every once in a while, you discover an abandoned, historical building whose history is not only recorded, but chilling — and you might walk away wishing you didn't know.
The Villa Sborteli is one of those haunting sites. Built in the late 1800s by a wealthy businessman, it now sits crumbling in the beautiful hills of Tuscany, Italy. And considering it was actively used for 122 years, there's no question that this house has seen its fair share of spooky sights.
After housing European noblemen, years of mentally ill patients, and even a troop of Nazis, this is definitely one intriguing house. What's more? It's absolutely gorgeous. They might be peeling and graffitied, but its beautiful frescos are a sight to behold.
What do you think this sprawling villa has witnessed? Let us know in the comments below!
Be sure to watch the video at the end, and please SHARE if you love spooky histories like this!
Nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany behind a well-worn brick gate at the end of a quiet road sits a beautiful, old mystery: Villa Sbertoli.
Built in the late 1800s, Villa Sbertoli began its life as a lush private residence for Augustine Sbertoli and his family. With its many rooms, dining halls, ballrooms, tennis courts, and a gymnasium, the beautiful villa was fit for a king.
But according to local legend, despite being wealthy and well-connected, the Sbertoli family was unhappy: By 19th-century standards, their young son was "mad," and had to be concealed from public view for sake of the family's dignity.
By 1868, to tend to their son's needs — and those of the wealthy elite — Villa Sbertoli became "Nursing Sbertoli for Nervous Diseases." The estate-turned-hospital opened its doors to rich patients all over Europe.
In the 19th and early-20th century, it didn't take much to land oneself in a "sanitarium" or "asylum." People could be committed for depression, illegitimate pregnancies, stress, alcoholism, epilepsy, or shell-shock.
The wealthy families of Europe appreciated the discretion with which their family members were treated at Villa Sbertoli.
They also appreciated the beauty of the mansion and its gorgeous location. It was the perfect place for "unwell" family members to be concealed.
But during World War II, the hospital's services were interrupted when Nazis took control of the villa. During its occupation, the mansion served as a detention center for political prisoners.
After the close of the war, the villa resumed its role as a mental hospital. Though it was an acclaimed medical facility, considered cutting edge at its time, the hospital performed procedures that we would consider barbaric today.
Straitjackets, tub immersion, electro-shock therapy, lobotomies, and even malaria-infected mosquitoes were all considered top-of-the-line treatments that would have been administered at the villa.
Though today these methods seem cruel, in their time, doctors believed these methods to be effective cures for their patients' "diseases."
But by the mid-1900s, laws were put in place to better regulate asylums and their treatments.
When the government minister of Italy inspected Villa Sbertoli, they made many troubling discoveries, including lack of proper medical equipment, poor record management, overcrowding, and decaying premises.
By the end of the 20th century, other such discoveries around the world led to the closure of many old-fashioned asylums. Rather than commit their relatives to institutions, family members began to treat them at home instead.
In 1990, Villa Sbertoli — or, "Nursing Sbertoli" — finally closed their doors for good.
Since then, this gorgeous but creepy estate has been completely abandoned. Now, only local kids and vandals walk through its doors.
Who knows what these peeling walls have seen throughout the years. If they could talk, what do you think they would say?
Be sure to watch the spooky video below, then please SHARE if you love stories like this!
