New images reveal an abandoned psychiatric hospital that was the scene of a shocking massacre during World War II and suffered a scandal involving inhumane techniques to treat patients.
The infamous hospital was involved in a gory massacre during World War II which saw the brutal death of a group of more than 70 soldiers.
The ill-fated soldiers were of the fascist Socialist Republic of Italy, who had been held in a nearby stadium used as a prison camp.
On May 12, 1945, a group of partisans hoarded the prisoners into vehicles and brought them to Vercelli in Italy, locking them in the psychiatric hospital after having forced the staff to leave.
In the asylum, the prisoners were violently beaten and split up into smaller groups, with most then executed.
The hospital's reputation took another hit in the 1960s after many of its nurses denounced the director, accusing him of using "psychologically violent" methods with patients.
The institution then closed its doors in 1978 as a result of the Italian Mental Health Act of 1978, 'Law 180'.
This law, which is also known as 'Basaglia Law' after Italian psychiatrist Franco Basaglia, ordered for the closure of all asylums and encouraged them to be replaced with community-based patient services.
Following the asylum's closure, it was used as a regular hospital until 1991 when it was shut down and replaced by a new hospital nearby.
Since it's final closure, the site was abandoned with mountains of confidential patient records strewn across the site.
In a range of images captured by Italian photographer Annalisa of the decaying site, one reveals drawers full of doctor's notes alongside a book from 1953 on cardiothoracic surgery.
Another snap shows an spooky looking altar used for prayer draped in maroon velvet.
Amongst the pictures is an image of a white mask sat on a wheelchair which could represent the former patients of the asylum.
Annalisa, who is 30-years-old, learned the history of the historic site and took her time with the snaps to tell the true story of the asylum.
She said of the experience: "Entering an abandoned place is always very impressive, and when you enter a mental hospital you can almost perceive the suffering that there was in the past.
"The long empty corridors leave a sense of oppression and make you feel trapped.
"Being a heavily visited facility, all doors were open. You just had to be careful not to make any noise because there was a doctor's surgery next door and it was risky to get caught."
She continued: "When you are in such a big and old place, there are always strange noises whose origin is always very doubtful, because it could be an animal, a person, or maybe something else."
The photographer went on to explain that the hospital was built between 1935 and 1937, and was one of the largest asylums in Italy at the time.
Annalisa also compared the abandoned site to "a horror movie scenario" due to its creaking doors and the debris scattered across the floor.
She added: "I really like photographing places such as psychiatric hospitals, because through my photos I want to be able to convey the very strong emotions that one feels when exploring a place full of history and suffering like this.
"My favourite photos are the ones with the wheelchair abandoned on an overgrown patio. The presence of the mask fascinated and disturbed me, and it was a very strong emotion."
