I was in Salem on a very snowy day, just to make the visit even more frightening. The city, located in the state of Massachusetts, is also known as the city of witches – the one from the film “The Witches of Salem”. The snow in March didn’t help us much. Most museums and exhibition centers were closed due to the snowfall. Just two brave Brazilians to leave the house and wander the streets in weather like that.
Click here to search for accommodation in Salem
The story: how Salem became the city of witches
The story is as follows: in 1692, the population of Puritans who lived there began to develop an absurd superstition, based on fear and credulity, that they were under demonic threat that would be exercised through female witches (and a few men). . During a year, around 150 people were arrested and around 20 women were killed on accusations of witchcraft. The story became famous and Salem still has memories of that period to this day.
(Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0)
Salem has no shortage of witch-themed museums and attractions. Even the symbols on police cars have witches painted on them. That’s what I call exploring tourism! There is also the Salem Wax Museum, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Witch History Museum and the Salem Witch Museum. The best time to visit the city is in October, the month of Halloween. They hold a lot of parties and events to celebrate the date.
In addition to this theme, it is also worth visiting Salem for the history of the United States. The city was founded in 1626 and to this day retains some of the architecture and style of that time. This cemetery that I buried myself in in the photo below, for example, is the second oldest in the USA and has existed since 1664. Some very old buildings are still standing from that time and are now art or history museums.
It is possible to visit Salem on a day trip from Boston. A train takes you there in less than an hour, and this is certainly a worthwhile visit, especially for those who grew up in the 90s. Or the 70s. You know that series “Bewitched”? Yes, some external scenes were recorded in Salem. But much more important for me was the film Abracadabra (Hocus Pocus in English), the one with Bete Midler, from the Sanderson sisters, which was also filmed there. So you can visit the city while singing “I’ve put a spell on you” in your head. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the video below.
Attention: It is not a good idea to travel to the United States without international health insurance, as hospital costs there are very high. Read here how to find cost-effective insurance (and with a discount!)
