There is something about abandoned buildings that piques human curiosity. And if that abandoned building happens to be a mental asylum, it seems to become a whole lot more interesting—and creepier.

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Austrian photographer Thomas Windisch captured images of abandoned mental hospitals around Italy, and the result is both beautiful and terrifying. With decrepit operating tables, old medicine bottles, forgotten X-rays and lonely wheelchairs, questions about those who once occupied these spaces remain unanswered.

The mental hospitals Windisch photographed were shut down by the government in 1978 when Italy reformed its psychiatric programs to focus on integrating mentally ill citizens into community life.

Windisch admits that the abandoned buildings are a bit creepy, especially if one is exploring alone. Take a look at the slideshow above for an eerie look into Italy's past.

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