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Italian Legends from Maremma
Le Leggende
Italian legends - "le Leggende" that are still re-told by grandfather to grandchild today. There is something intrinsically fascinating about legends: passed down from one generation to the next, a mixture of factual occurences and years of storytelling fiction, which over the course of time it becomes increasingly difficult to separate. But perhaps in our modern day world that is their attraction: the mystery they hold in not knowing for sure...
These legends are from Maremma in Italy. A land of rich Etruscan cities, of centuries long Tuscan fueds between rich and influencial medieval families, French invasion and Spanish rule, Barbary coast pirate raids, and a bitter existence from a poor and malaria infested landscape... tales indeed.
I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have in researching them.
Pia de Tolomei
Legend has it that it was in Castel di Pietra that the powerful Lord Nello d'Inghiramo Pannocchiesch ordered the execution of his innocent wife the "gentiledonna senese", Pia di Tolomei, in order that he could marry his lover the Margherita Aldobrandeschi, Contessa of Sovana and Pitigliano.
Pia was forever immortalised by Dante Alighieri in his writings at the time, but was it really a case of innocence versus betrayal, or does the evidence challenge this popular romaticised version? You decide... the legend of Pia de Tolomei.
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Domenico Tiburzi
A tragic tale of a beloved 19th Century desparado - the Robin Hood of Maremma - who gave his life to help the poor against an inhumane law, or a murderous brigand? Hidden and protected by farmers, it took 25 years before he was finally betrayed and gunned down. |
Margherita Marsili - La Bella Marsilia
Feisty sixteen year old Margherita Marsili - the beautiful "Rossellana" so named because of her flame red hair - was abducted one stormy night from the most beautiful castle in Maremma by the infamous Barbary coast pirate Khair ed Din alias Barbarossa the Corsair and taken to Constantinople...
The above photograph of the Torre Bella Marsilia is by kind permission of Dario Morelli. |
More to follow...
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