Archive for 'Legends'

  

Monday, September 2, 2013
Poggibonsi Landscape
Visit the small grim Strozzavolpe castle near Poggibonsi in the province of Siena in Tuscany and learn about the huge array of eerie myths and legends that envelop it! Visitors wishing to stay in the Poggibonsi area for a few days have a fine selection of great holiday rentals available to them.

There are tales of countless ghosts that haunt the walls of this thousand year old castle but two in particular stand out. One is the story of when the castle was being constructed. A wild animal, described as looking like a huge fox or wolf is said to have terrorised the builders and the castle owner, called Bonifacio.

He was outraged that this creature was causing such a disruption and planned to get his revenge. He strangled the creature with a rope and buried its body within the foundations of the castle. It’s believed that the castle got its name from this grisly tale as it's called Strozzavolpe and the Italian translation of fox is ‘volpe’. Many locals have claimed to have heard the howling of this doomed creature at night as it seeks revenge on Bonifacio for killing it.     Read More
Posted in: Castles & Palaces, Legends, Tourist Attractions

  

Monday, September 2, 2013
The lake where the Devil passed through with Lucida
If you’re passing through the province of Lucca during your tours of Tuscany, you may learn of the mystical legend of a beautiful woman called Lucida Mansi. Visitors have plenty of exquisite vacation rentals in the Lucca area to rest in for a few days. Here they can learn all about this exciting tale as well as engaging in other interesting things to do and see in the towns and villages around Lucca.

Lucida Mansi was young and by far the fairest in the land; men all over adored her beauty and desired to be with her. It was widely rumoured that she had secretly murdered her husband to lead a wealthy life full of lavish parties dressed in the finest clothes and jewels, paid for with her newly acquired inheritance.

She used her attractiveness to seduce many men and loved herself so much that she demanded to be constantly surrounded by mirrors to admire her prettiness. It’s said that she even had a small mirror in her prayer book and one above her bed to ensure she always had her reflection staring back at her.     Read More
Posted in: Legends, Tourist Attractions

  

Monday, September 2, 2013
The Battle of Anghiari
Take a day during your Tuscan holiday to visit the spectacular Sorci castle in Anghiari in the province of Arezzo to learn about the legend of the famous mercenary leader, Baldaccio d’Anghiari! Visitors wishing to stay in the Anghiari area for a few days have a wealth of tuscan villas for rent available to rent all year around.

This castle is now a huge lavish hotel restaurant where you can walk around and envisage the stories that weave through its history. Sorci castle, built during the 12th century was also the inspiration for a well known Italian film, ‘Nothing left to do but cry’.

Sorci castle was Baldaccio’s home and he was a brave and strong military leader, greatly respected by the people of Anghiari. But during a gruesome conflict between him and his enemies, he was savagely beheaded in Palazzo Vecchio and his limp corpse was flung from a window onto Piazza Signoria in front of a terrified crowd!     Read More
Posted in: Castles & Palaces, Legends, Tourist Attractions

  

Monday, September 2, 2013
Brolio Castle
Come and learn about the eerie legend of the ghost of Bettino Ricasoli who’s said to haunt the castle of Brolio to this day! Tourists wishing to stay for a few days have plenty of luxury holiday villas in the Chianti region in the province of Siena where the castle stands in its centre.

Visitors will learn all about the history associated with this glorious fortress. It belonged to the powerful Ricasoli family since 1141 and was inherited by Bettino Ricasoli in the 19th century. He was born in 1809 and went on to become a man of great importance and power in the Chianti region.

His stern nature and greed earned him the title of ‘The Iron Baron’ and the farmers who worked on his land were terrified of him. He forbade anyone from greeting him with small talk as he regarded this as a sheer waste of his time.     Read More
Posted in: Castles & Palaces, Legends, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, August 30, 2013
View of Volterra
If you are planning to holiday in the Volterra area of Tuscany then you have the chance to learn all about the legendary and gruesome trial of a woman called Elena di Travale who was accused of witchcraft and subjected to horrific torture in June 1423! Thousands of women suffered the brutal repercussions of being accused of witchcraft by a then paranoid European population who believed anything out of the norm was the work of the devil and his co-conspirators!

There is a great selection of fantastic holiday villas with pool nearby Volterra where you can stay and learn all about this intriguing legend and experience all the delights the area has to offer!

Elena came from the small medieval village of Travale in the Val di Cecina where a great deal of geothermal activity takes place. Thick vapour gases are often seen rising in the air through cracks in the earth because of the volcanic activity going on beneath the tectonic plate here. But back then, people feared it was the work of witches who gathered in the area to practice dark magic.     Read More
Posted in: Legends, Tourist Attractions