From year to year, Italy attracts crowds of tourists who, buying tickets to the land of the sea, wine and sun, pursue different goals. Someone wants to soak up the hot sun on one of the sandy beaches, who wants to see the local sights, visit museums and learn something new, and someone immediately goes to Milan for shopping.
However, there is another type of tourists: the so-called "ghost hunters" who look for ghostly creatures in the castles of Italy. So which castles and why do lovers of such thrills go? What ghosts live in Italy?
Castle of Santa Severa
This ancient castle from the 12th century, which is located a few kilometers from the Italian capital, is home to perhaps the country's most famous ghost. According to the stories of local residents and tourists who were "lucky" to be here, groans, creaks and steps are constantly heard in the castle, and various objects move inside the building.
According to archaeologists, they managed to find a cemetery with several hundred graves near the castle. The beating of Saint Severa for her unwillingness to renounce the Christian faith can be attributed to this place. The girl died a violent death, which, according to the "ghost hunters", could serve as the appearance of her ghost in the castle. The beach of the eponymous town of Santa Severa with 2000 years of history is an excellent option for a relaxing seaside holiday for those who do not want to lose touch with the Eternal City. There are no hotels in the city itself, which means there are no tourists either.
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Poppi Castle (Castello Poppi, Castello dei Conti Guidi)
The small town of Poppy has been famous for tales of otherworldly power for many years. For the first time a gloomy castle, which once belonged to the Guido dynasty, is mentioned in written sources in 1191. Historians say that knights' tournaments were often held in this castle, in which the best participated in the battle to the death. Centuries have passed since then, and medieval knights still cannot lower their swords: from the castle, characteristic sounds are regularly heard, reminiscent of horses' hooves, clanging of steel and screams.
Locals will also be happy to tell you the legend about Princess Matilda, who, after the death of her husband, received young lovers in her chambers. After a night of love, the lady escorted the men straight to the pit with blades at the bottom, in which the poor fellows perished. Residents of the city, having learned about the cunning of the princess, immured her alive in the walls of the castle, where she regularly appears to this day as a ghost.
Montebello Castle (Castello di Montebello)
Montebello Castle, which is located near the resort town of Rimini, has long kept the old legend about the little girl Gwendolyn, the daughter of a local official. Gwendoline was born an albino - blonde hair and white skin made the girl stand out from her peers.
However, in those days, such a hair and skin color was considered ugly, and in some regions of Italy it was completely associated with evil spirits, so the child's parents dyed her curls in a different color. But the girl's hair reacted rather strangely to the paint: no matter what color the baby's curls were dyed, her hair turned blue. Gwendoline was called the "blue girl" (bimba azzurra). One sunny day, the baby, as always, was playing with a ball, when suddenly thunder broke out and a thunderstorm began. After the storm died down, it turned out that Gwendolyn had disappeared. The girl has never been seen since. However, locals regularly report strange noises in the dungeons of the castle: they hear the crying and laughing of a child.
Yuri Pushkin