VERCELLI ASYLUM

The history of the Vercelli asylum: a tale of light and shadow

The origins of the Vercelli asylum date back to the 19th century. By 1874 it was already operational, ranking as one of the four public asylums in Piedmont, with about 150 patients. But the facility we know today, a real hospital village, was built only between 1928 and 1937.
The Vercelli asylum did not come out of nowhere. Before its advent, there were already several facilities for the care of the mentally ill in Piedmont, such as the asylum in Turin and the one in Alessandria.
The decision to build a new asylum in Vercelli was made in 1872, in response to the increase in the number of patients and the need to create a more suitable environment for their care.
The design of the Vercelli asylum was entrusted to engineer Luigi Martina, who was inspired by state-of-the-art asylum models in Europe.
The complex, built by engineer Eugenio Cadorna, was state-of-the-art for the time. It covered 28 hectares and included 20 pavilions, a church, a theater, a library, a gymnasium, and even a children’s area. The goal was to create a self-sufficient and therapeutic environment for patients suffering from mental illness.

Life in the Vercelli asylum was governed by strict rules and schedules. Patients were divided according to gender and the severity of their illness.
Days were punctuated by work, recreational and therapeutic activities. Work was considered an important element in the patients’ rehabilitation.
The therapies used at the time were often rudimentary and ineffective. These included hydrotherapy, electroshock, and insulin therapy.

However, dark shadows also lurked within the walls of the Vercelli asylum. During the fascist regime, patients were often subjected to barbaric and inhumane treatments, such as electroshock and insulin therapy. Their living conditions were often precarious, with poor hygiene and insufficient food.

A particularly dramatic event occurred in May 1945, just after the end of World War II. A group of partisans summarily executed 47 fascists, including the prefect of Vercelli, inside the asylum. This episode, known as the Vercelli Psychiatric Hospital Massacre, represents a deep wound in the city’s collective memory.
The Basaglia law and closure:
Fortunately, with the advent of the Basaglia law in 1978, the Vercelli asylum was gradually closed. Patients were moved to smaller, more humane facilities, and the main building was abandoned.

Today, the former asylum in Vercelli is a ghostly place, fascinating and eerie at the same time. Most of the pavilions are in ruins, and only a few areas, such as the library and church, can be visited. The complex is the subject of debate: some would like to preserve it as a historical memory, while others would like to see it redeveloped for modern use.

Beyond its uncertain fate, the Vercelli asylum remains an important symbol of the history of psychiatry in Italy. Its walls tell stories of suffering and hope, of marginalization and rebirth. A place that cannot be forgotten because it represents a fundamental chapter in our past.

The former asylum in Vercelli is a place that is fascinating and disturbing at the same time.
Most of the pavilions are in ruins, and it is possible to visit only a few areas, such as the library and the church.
The complex is the subject of debate: some would like to preserve it as a historical memory, while others would like to see it converted to modern use.The Vercelli asylum, an impressive and impressive complex, has for years been shrouded in mystery and legends related to alleged ghosts.

The little girl dressed in white: A little girl dressed in white silently wanders around the halls. She is said to be the ghost of a patient who died at a young age.
The Phantom Doctor: A man in a white coat roaming the halls of the asylum. He is thought to be the spirit of a doctor who worked in the asylum and remained attached to the place even after death.
Faceless Patients: Faceless ghostly figures walking aimlessly through the ruins of the asylum. They are said to be the spirits of patients who suffered and died in the asylum.

Regardless of the veracity of the ghost stories, the Vercelli asylum remains a fascinating and eerie place.
Its troubled history, evocative ruins and surrounding legends make it an ideal place for lovers of mystery and the paranormal.