The Witchery restaurant in Edinburgh embraces the spirit of the season. Photo by David Cheskin
October may be spooky season, but these destinations don’t need a calendar to up the creepy factor. With skull-lined crypts, candlelit taverns, and Gothic cemeteries, these four cities deliver drama all year round. What makes them naturally haunting is their combination of architecture, history, and folklore. Add in stories of witches, the plague, and mysterious displays of skeletons deep beneath the streets, including 50 miles of catacombs just in Rome alone, and you’ll see why these cities’ spooky appeal extends far beyond October.
Each destination is paired with a hotel that lets you go deeper into the story and captures some of a city’s atmospheric charm.
Photo by David Cheskin
Edinburgh, Scotland
With moody skies, cobblestone streets and Edinburgh Castle towering over the city, Edinburgh looks and feels like a fairy-tale brought to life. It also has a grisly history marked by the plague and public executions, including witches who were strangled or burned at the stake. Tap into its spooky side with a tour of the Real Mary King’s Close, a warren of 17th-century streets and tenements under the Royal Mile. The 16th-century Greyfriars Kirkyard is said to be haunted by George Mackenzie, a former Lord nicknamed “Bloody Mackenzie” due to his persecution of Scottish Covenanters. Take a close look at the names on the ancient gravestones here, as many are said to have inspired characters in the Harry Potter series.
Hotel | The Witchery is an over-the-top Gothic confection located at the gates of Edinburgh Castle, named for the 16th- and 17th-century Scottish witch trials. The hotel has just nine suites, and guests can expect rich colors, tapestries, and candlelit nooks.
Photo courtesy Visit Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
It’s no wonder Savannah is considered one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. It’s been the site of epic battles, a devastating fire, and deadly epidemics. Many parts of the city, such as historic squares, were built over graveyards. For more ghostly feels, explore the sprawling Bonaventure Cemetery, which has more than 100 acres of marble crypts and Gothic gravestones, along with Spanish moss-draped trees. Head to the candlelit basement bar, Planters Tavern in the historic Olde Pink House for a cocktail. It’s rumored to be haunted by a former owner.
Hotel | Kehoe House was originally built in 1892, and has a deeply spooky pedigree. At one point, it was a funeral home and is rumored to be haunted by the two Kehoe children, who supposedly died in an accident on the property.
Photo courtesy Inn at Roman Forum
Rome, Italy
While Rome is one of the most romantic cities in the world, it’s also one of the most mysterious. The city has more than 50 miles of catacombs which were originally used as cemeteries. The Capuchin Crypt, a collection of tiny chapels beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, contains the skeletons of 3,700 bodies believed to be Capuchin friars. The bones are arranged in elaborate displays. Mamertine Prison, the oldest prison in Rome, has an elegant exterior and an eerie interior. High-profile people were kept here before execution, and according to some, this included the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Hotel | Located near the Forum and the Colosseum, the Inn at the Roman Forum has sumptuous decor, such as silk-covered walls and oil paintings. A door behind the check-in desk leads to a 2,000-year-old Roman passageway with winding caverns and the remains of frescoes.
Photo by Benny Gross, WikiCommons
Lima, Peru
While Lima is arguably best-known as the culinary capital of South America and a gateway to Machu Picchu, Peru’s capital also has a darker side hidden beneath its historic streets. The Catacombs of San Francisco Church are underground crypts containing the skeletal remains of an estimated 25,000 people, with skulls and bones arranged in geometric patterns. Casa Matusita is considered one of the most haunted houses in Latin America. According to legend, in the 1700s, one of its former residents was accused of being a witch and burned at the stake. Another tale involves a mass poisoning here.
Hotel | Hotel B, housed in a dramatic Belle Époque mansion, is Lima’s only Relais & Châteaux hotel. Behind its ornate facade, expect a collection of 300 pieces of original artwork along with dark, clubby spaces.
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