Greece isn’t among the countries that celebrate Halloween on October 31, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its fair share of creepy places. Stories of haunted houses where spirits screech and the supernatural roams freely are plentiful. Here are some of the country’s most chilling and terrifying spooky places where ghostly activity, UFOs and other strange death-defying creatures have been spotted.
Elounda’s Lagoon, Crete
The Gulf of Korthos where Elounda’s lagoon is located also contains the notorious island of Spinalonga and its Venetian fortress that were used for many years to house a leper colony. Sad tales are told of those who escaped from the “Isle of Tears” where they had been banished. Many escapees, desperate to see their loved ones, tried to leave in barrels. Some of them met with Britomartis, a mermaid goddess.
Maroussi Cemetery, Athens
Many drivers passing by the cemetery claim to have seen a girl crying outside. The young child vanishes when they respond to her cries for help. Known to the locals as little Anna (I mikri Annoula), her legend has given rise to a number of macabre jokes eg. “Why doesn’t little Annoula sit on the swings?” “Because she doesn’t have hands.” “What do little Annoula’s parents do when other parents host birthday parties for their kids?” “They host a wake.” etc.
Riviotissa Cemetery, Sparta
Crazy Ioannis Koukoutsis came home with his butcher’s knife one afternoon and used it to slaughter and decapitate his wife in her sleep. Vasso, the young daughter, and her friend came home in time to witness the bloody massacre, just before her father surrendered himself to the police. It is believed that the ghost of the mad butcher walks around the cemetery every night after midnight moving tomb stones and other artefacts.
Villa Kazouli, Athens
The mansion was occupied by German soldiers in World War II. They used it to torture Greek soldiers to death. Twelve bodies were found buried in the garden alone and they are often heard screaming for help, trapped eternally in the pain they once endured.
Daveli’s Cave, Penteli
The large cave (60 meters long, 40 meters wide and 20 meters high) is actually inside an ancient marble quarry – perhaps the same one that produced the Parthenon marbles. This place of worship for the god Pan and the nymphs was used by hermits during Byzantine times. There are two churches at its entrance – St. Spyridon and St. Nicholas – as it was customary to erect churches in places of idolatory. The cave achieved notoriety when an outlaw known as Davelis (real name Christos Natsios) used the cave as a hideout. It is believed that tunnels from this cave lead to regions around Athens. Others still, believe that it is a time portal as the cave has always been associated with paranormal activity. It achieved even greater notoriety when the army began construction works in the area causing speculation that it was being used for sinister purposes. People wanted to know why the army was tampering with an ancient site.
Frangocastello, Crete
A place of many gory battles and blood-spilling, the castle of Frangocastello is haunted by those who had been slaughtered. Traditionally, locals and visitors from all around Crete sleep outside the castle on May 17 waiting for the strange phenomenon of flickering shadows that miraculously appear. The shadows, projected on the castle’s external walls, resemble mounted men and soldiers. The locals know them as “Drosoulites” or “dew spirits” and are the spirits of fighters of Hatzimichalis Dalianis’ battle against the Turks in 1828. Green flashes are also seen from time to time.
