Ghosts of Tuscany- Italy Tuscany is one of the oldest places in the world, and it has its its fair share of dark history and sinister stories involving assassinated young noblemen and beheaded warriors who continue to inhabit the region’s castles and stately homes. Indeed, the old manors and medieval villages provide the settings for some fantastic and spooky folk tales and urban legends. And these captivating and unique fables represent the region’s colourful past. In the province of Arezzo, for example, you might wish to visit the beautiful Sorci Castle in Anghiari. This ancient 12th century site is now a place to dine out and drink fine Italian wines. The castle is a popular attraction because it was once the home of the well-known mercenary soldier leader, Baldaccio d’Anghiari. As documented by the writer Niccolò Machiavelli, Baldaccio was brutally and treacherously murdered in the Palazzo Vecchio, his beheaded body thrown from a window in front of a shocked crowd gathered in Piazza Signoria. Legend has it that his spirit continues to seek revenge in the castle that was once his home and, on many occasions since, witnesses claim to have heard the clanging of his armour in the night. I was fortunate enough to visit the medieval town of Cortona a few years ago- Cortona is home to the famous “Doors of the Dead”. It is believed that these tall, narrow, pointed arched openings served the sole purpose of conveying coffins out of homes According to a distant - possibly Etruscan - belief, Death would leave the house along with the deceased person and could only return through the same entrance. This explains perhaps why bodies could only exit through these doors and why the doorways would immediately be closed up tight again afterwards: to prevent Death from re-entering the house. There is a certain atmosphere in Cortona, especially at night as you walk through the narrow passageways which seem to be never ending. In Brolio, in Gaiole in Chianti, there is a castle that has belonged to the Ricasoli family since 1141. Bettino Ricasoli, known as the “Iron Baron” due to his strictness with his subjects, dominated this land until 1880, when he died in the castle due to a heart attack. The Baron’s body was not buried immediately, but kept near the altar of the crypt in the family chapel. During that time, rumours began to circulate about strange sightings around the castle. The rumours quickly became true stories, spreading all over Chianti. Disturbing events were already occurring at the time of his funeral: the wind began to blow and the windows opened and closed violently as if moved by an invisible hand. Moreover, a swarm of moths invaded the chapel, forcing many of the mourners to flee. As if that were not enough, the coffin was so heavy that it felt like it was full of stones and no one was able to lift it up. The priest arrived and said a few words in Latin and, to everyone’s amazement, the coffin suddenly became light again. The damned souls were confined in a safe place and the coffin of the baron was then buried in a ravine. It seemed the right place for the eternal repose of the baron, but from that moment an endless series of sightings began. The ghost of Vincigliata Castle in Fiesole is among the most famous tales in Italy! Trapped in the walls of the castle of Vincigliata, is the legend of Donna Bianca (White Woman), a young and beautiful girl courted by many men, but in love with the son of her family’s worst enemy. Despite this, their love seemed to triumph until their wedding day, when Donna Bianca’s brothers killed the groom. Bianca, in her wedding dress, died with a broken heart. Ever since that moment, her spirit has stayed within the castle walls, protecting all kinds of love, especially the more difficult ones.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:37:35 +0000
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