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This is the tiny Gaiola island, just off the coast of Naples, Italy. It might look beautiful, but it’s got a very dark and very creepy history.
Back in the 1800s, a hermit nicknamed ‘the Wizard’ was the island’s only resident. He lived on food given to him by local fisherman, until one day he mysteriously vanished.
Ever since the Wizard disappeared, dark things have been happening to anyone who tried to live there, and locals believe the Wizard put a curse on the island.
In the 1920’s, the island’s new Swiss owner, Hans Braun, was found dead wrapped inside a rug. Shortly after, his wife drowned in the surrounding sea.
German Otto Grunbuck then took over the island but, while staying at the picturesque villa, he suffered a sudden heart attack and died.
After Grunbuck, Swiss writer Maurice-Yves Sandoz owned the property for a short while, before he killed himself.
And it just goes on and on — Fiat CEO Gianni Agnelli, ignoring the reputation of the island, bought it only to have many of his relatives die suddenly afterwards.
Multi-billionaire Paul Getty had just purchased the island when his grandson was kidnapped.
Admittedly, the last owner — insurance company-owner Gianpasquale Grappone — didn’t die, but he has ended up in prison due to unpaid debts.
Now, the island has fallen into ruin as no one wants to live there. We don’t think we’ll be heading there on vacation any time soon…