Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Cortenova Villa de Vecchi

Villa de Vecchi

The abandoned "Ghost Mansion" was left to decay in the mountains of Northern Italy.

Cortenova, Italy

Added By
Emily Linstrom
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
The Fireplace.   Marta Sailis/Used with permission
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
Orginal House and Staff Quarters.   unknown/Public domain
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
Villa De Vecchi.   Jeff Kerwin/CC BY 2.0
Villa De Vecchi.   Marta Sailis/Used with permission
  Nachtportier / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Front Entrance.   Marta Sailis/Used with permission
  Riccardo Melillo/Getty
Grand Piano.   Marta Sailis
Villa De Vecchi.   Emily Linstrom / Atlas Obscura User
Villa De Vecchi.   Emily Linstrom / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Just east of Lake Como, nestled against the forested mountains of Cortenova, sits a house that's said to be haunted. Villa De Vecchi, alternately nicknamed the Red House, Ghost Mansion, and Casa Delle Streghe (The House of Witches), was built between 1854-1857 as the summer residence of Count Felix De Vecchi. Within a few short years of its completion the house witnessed an inexplicable string of tragedies that would forever cement its gothic legacy.

Count Felix De Vecchi was head of the Italian National Guard and a decorated hero following Milan’s liberation from Austrian rule in 1848. A well-read and widely traveled man, the Count set out to build a dream retreat for his family with the help of architect Alessandro Sidoli.

Alessandro Sidioli died a year before the villa was completed, and many would later view his death as the first ill omen. Nevertheless, the Count and his family made Villa De Vecchi their home during the spring and summer months, and by most accounts lead an idyllic—if brief—existence.

Set within a 130,000-square-meter park, the great mansion boasted a blend of Baroque and Classical Eastern styles, and was outfitted with all the modern conveniences of the time including indoor heating pipes, dumbwaiters, and a large-scale pressurized fountain. The walls and ceilings were decorated with painstakingly detailed frescoes and friezes, and a larger-than-life fireplace presided over the main parlor where a grand piano stood at the ready. Extensive gardens and promenades rounded out the already picturesque surroundings, and an equally impressive staff house was built.

Sometime in 1862 the Count returned home to find his wife brutally murdered and daughter missing. The Count put out a lengthy, unsuccessful search for his daughter, before committing suicide that same year.

The villa was then passed on to Felix’s brother Biago, whose later renovations oversaw the removal of much of the estate’s Eastern aspects. Biago and his family continued to live on the grounds up until WWII, after which they vacated for good. The house made the rounds of owners and prospective buyers, but by the 1960’s was left permanently uninhabited.

While the natural elements began their assault early on, the majority of the abandoned house’s irreversible damage has been done by humans. Graffiti covers the walls, and anything capable of being vandalized has been given its due makeover.  Bad boy occultist Aleister Crowley allegedly spent a few nights at the villa in the 1920’s, which naturally led to a rise in fan pilgrimages. Rumors of ritualistic orgies, sacrifices (both animal and human), suicides, and murders abound. 

The grand piano, once said to be played at night by a ghostly entity, has since been smashed to pieces, though some locals claim that music can still be heard coming from the house.

Despite all natural and human efforts to bring about its demise, Villa De Vecchi persists. An avalanche in 2002 wiped out all of the nearby houses, while the villa remained untouched.

Related Tags

Haunted Houses Mansions Villas Suicide Murder Abandoned Abandoned Houses Aleister Crowley Homes

Know Before You Go

First and foremost, technically going into the house is trespassing. A few tattered signs will tell you as much, so be mindful. Daylight hours are best for visiting, and not just because of things that go bump in the night; the house really is at its most viewable (and for safety’s sake, navigable) during the day. Second, and maybe even more importantly, the house IS falling apart, and faster than ever. Recently one of the upper floors gave out, taking a woman with it. The stairs are rapidly deteriorating, and bits of ceiling regularly rain down. Hard hats and knee pads aren't necessarily a must, but be cautious and maybe avoid the upper levels altogether. Last but far from least, please be respectful of the house and its surroundings. Villa De Vecchi is truly a magnificent piece of architecture, and unique example of one man’s vision that surpassed typical McMansion standards.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Emily Linstrom

Edited By

Max Cortesi, Michael Inscoe, Nachtportier, Oloid23...

  • Max Cortesi
  • Michael Inscoe
  • Nachtportier
  • Oloid23
  • theannemeadows
  • martijnnen

Published

October 20, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Villa de Vecchi
Provincial Street 2
Cortenova
Italy
46.003158, 9.387476
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Varenna Cemetery

Varenna, Italy

miles away

Big Bench #137

Civenna, Italy

miles away

Ca’ Milesi

Cassiglio, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Varenna Cemetery

Varenna, Italy

miles away

Big Bench #137

Civenna, Italy

miles away

Ca’ Milesi

Cassiglio, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

Villa de Vecchi

Podcast

By The Podcast Team

33 Deserted Places Around the World

List

By Meg Neal

The Real Story Behind Northern Italy's Abandoned 'Ghost Mansion'

ruins

By Lizzie Philip

The Abandoned 'Ghost Mansion' of Northern Italy

Video

By Atlas Obscura

Related Places

  • Squat Milada.

    Prague, Czechia

    Squat Milada

    A former squatter's paradise outside Prague.

  • Danbury, Connecticut

    Hearthstone Castle

    A castle inspired by medieval architecture is hidden in the woods of Connecticut.

  • The Gessner Mansion, locally known as the Georgetown Castle.

    Seattle, Washington

    Georgetown Castle

    An allegedly haunted mansion with a tragic, tawdry past.

  • The ruins in the wood.

    Bingley, England

    Milner Field Ruins

    A lavish Victorian mansion wound up inheriting a gruesome reputation that would be its demise.

  • Colin’s Barn’s turrets.

    Chedglow, England

    Colin's Barn

    Colin Stokes "got a bit carried away" and built a castle that looks like something out of Tolkien.

  • The Zalud house

    Porterville, California

    Zalud House

    The Zalud family experienced a number of tragedies in one decade, giving rise to rumors that the 19th century house is haunted.

  • August 2023

    Ballygalley, Northern Ireland

    Cairndhu House

    The ruins of a once-grand mansion in Northern Ireland are now thought to be haunted.

  • Los Feliz murder mansion

    Los Angeles, California

    Los Feliz Murder Mansion

    Left untouched since a double murder-suicide in the 1960s, Los Feliz murder mansion remains a neighborhood mystery.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.