Haunted Venice Castles - Ca' Dario

A first rate Italian haunted castle or at least a haunted palace. Ca’ Dario or Palazzo Dario is to be found in the Dorsoduro district of Venice Italy, facing onto the Grand Canal.

Before we get on to the strange ability of this building to kill nearly all who own it let’s look at the history of the place...

Don't scare easily? Take the ghost tour below!

Ca’Dario – History

Built in 1487 Ca’ Dario is unmistakable. It just doesn’t seem to fit in with the buildings near it. It is definitely a beautiful building, the chimneys in particular are distinctive and very few chimneys still exist in this style. The pale facade of marble and Istria stone is remarkably distinctive and stunningly beautiful – as Venice castles go this is lovely.

The building was designed and owned by Giovanni Dario and stayed in the Dario family until the 19th century but the cursed nature of the building seems to have started right from the beginning.

The Curse’s Victims

The number of owners, or members of their families, who have died shortly after owning this building is shocking. We are not talking about one or two deaths here but probably nearer to ten at least.

The first to die was the daughter of Giovanni Dario who committed suicide; this was followed by the murder of their son Vincenzo. The sad and terrible history continues right up until recently. In the last fifty years or so the list of casualties includes the following:

• The famous tenor Mario Del Monaco seriously injured in a car accident in 1964.

• Count delle Lanze in the 70’s who was murdered.

• Count delle Lanze's Croatian murderer was in turn murdered in London.

• Christoper Lambert – the manager of The Who who committed suicide by supposedly falling down stairs.

• Nicoletta Ferrari died in a suspicious car accident in the 80’s.

• Raul Gardini in the late 80’s committed suicide under suspicious circumstances.

Currently for Sale

The building is currently owned by a large American multinational but I have heard that it is for sale. If you are interested and don’t believe in haunted castles and palaces why not make an offer? Perhaps you can pick up a Venice castle at a bargain price.

More Ghosts in Italy

For more haunted castles and houses watch the video below. It includes the castle haunted by the ghost of the man in the iron mask (read more in my Castle of Exilles guide). and a short video of a walk up a haunted road. Very short because I panicked when I saw... can't be sure what I saw but here is the video!

Need a hotel in Venice? Why not try these.

Would you like to stay in a magnificent castle and feel like royalty? If you think this is for you then click here.

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