Italian town trying to oust a royal ghost
Asti is plagued by a former ruler
The charming small town of Asti, Italy has a problem: it's being haunted by the ghost of King Umberto II of Savoy.
The ghost has appeared at least four times since 2011. Most recently, a city employee had a conversation with the king's ghost in a City Hall office. The ghost has also been sighted in other offices around City Hall, and in the plaza outside.
The ghost is usually dressed as a "commoner," and usually appears around 8PM. No word on why the ghost has only recently started appearing, nor why he chose Asti for his final visitation place.
Umberto was born in 1904 into the House of Savoy, which had ruled over northern Europe since the year 1003. Umberto achieved the throne when the previous king abdicated after WWII, but he only kept the throne for a month before Italian voters opted to toss aside their monarchy in favor of a republic. Umberto was banished from Italy for life, and moved to Portugal, where he died in 1983.
Ghost hunters brought in by the town council believe that Umberto's presence has something to do with the upcoming 70th anniversary of his banishment.