Old prisons may not seem like a luxury destination, but they might be worth a visit. They have stories that not many people have heard, say a lot about the country they are in and represent a huge part of human history.
There are a lot of prisons all around the world, but some of them are quite special because of their location while others because of the people that lived between their walls.
Here are a few prisons that are worth visiting:
Robben Island, South Africa
Besides being a maximum-security prison for political prisoners, this UNESCO World Heritage site has also been a leper hospital and a military base.
Nelson Mandela has served 18 years on this island. There’s also a colony of endangered African penguins living there at the moment.
Alcatraz, Unites States
Also known as the rock, this prison has held Al “Scarface” Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.
Only three people have escaped this place: John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris, but no one knows what happened to them after they’ve escaped.
Devil’s Island, French Guiana
Constructed in the 1850s by the order of Napoleon III, this prison has been home to a thousand of criminals and political prisoners who were building roads and cell blocks while serving their time at the Devil’s Island.