A short history of
Italy & Vampires
The seemingly odd correlation of the location and ancient myth
Say it... Vampire!
When you hear the work ‘vampire’ – what is one of the first things you think of? Is it garlic or coffins? Or was it the best-selling series, Twilight? It was Twilight, I’m sure of it. Vampires have had an impact in humankind for many centuries. The folklore spans across many cultures and civilizations. Eastern Europe, Italy specifically, has been the birth place of some the most popular vampire stories.
Locations
Specific places within Italy with connections to Vampire lore.
Folklore
Origins of Vampiric lore within Italy and surrounding areas.
Modern Media
Vampires in Italy found in media in the 21st century
Locations in Italy
Montepulciano
This mountainous country-side gained massive popularity at the release of movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s novel, “New Moon.”
A significant part of this film was filmed in this small town of Tuscany, Italy. In the film, it was the home of the vampire society “the Volturi.”
“Since the beginning, the Gothic is, and remains, a quintessentially European and transnational phenomenon, crossing national borders, languages, and expressive codes in the decades of the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.”
Professor Fabio A. Camilletti
Locations in Italy
Rome
Often the stories of vampires would emphasize the common practice of relocation. This caused for legends of vampires to pop up in large European cities, like London or Rome.
These vampires would prey on the city folk for their source of food. When the cities became too risky, they would escape to the country-side until they needed to feast again.
Folklore based in Italy
Venice's Vampire Island
When the bubonic plague scourged Europe, causing millions to die, mass graves were used to bury them.Recently, a skeleton with a brick in its mouth was discovered. According to folklore, a brick in the mouth was to prevent vampires from eating the corpses and creating more vampires in the process.
Etruscan mythology
The Etruscan civilization lived anciently in what is now modern day Tuscany. This mythology is closely tied with the Greek mythology. Their beliefs of deities, spirits, and the underworld influenced a lot of legends regarding these lands, eventually being tied with vampires.
I Vampiri
“I Vampiri” is a famous Italian horror movie that was released in 1957. The story surrounds the investigation of several murders of young women. All victims were found with their blood completely drained from their bodies. This caused the murderer being coined with the name “The Vampire.”
Modern Media
The Twilight Saga
The most popular and highly accredited reason for the ties between Italy and vampires is the Twilight Saga. Written by Stephenie Meyer and released in 2005, then quickly adapted into a film in 2008.
It was not until the release of the second film of the saga, “New Moon,” for Italy to have secure ties to the Twilight lore. The movie caused the city Montepulciano, Italy tourism to boom. They even do Twilight tours to showcase specific film locations.
ENHYPEN
"The Sin: Vanish"
The legends connection Italy and Vampires has now crossed the world by finding its place with in K-POP. On January 16th, 2026, ENHYPEN released their 7th mini-album, “The Sin: Vanish.”
This groups concept is often centered around vampires and the vampire aesthetic. Now taking it to another level, they filmed and photographed for this album in Montepulciano, Italy. They took direct inspiration from the Twilight movie!