Talking about Italy, people always think about places like the Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, Canal Grande, etc.
However, in Italy there are also other places that are off the tourists’ radar. Places where history mixes with mystery, superstition and legend.
In this article I’m going to talk about two mysterious places you can visit when in Tuscany.
THE SWORD IN THE STONE
Montesiepi is one of the first mysterious places to visit when in Tuscany.
In fact, in Rotonda of Montesiepi, near the ruins of the abbey of San Galgano, lies a sword in the stone – yes like the one of the legend of King Arthur!
What’s a sword in the stone doing in this small Italian village?
According to the legend, this sword belonged to Galgano. Galgano was a man who lived in the XXII century and led a life of violence.
During his life, he had two visions. The protagonist of the first was the Archangel Michael, who told Galgano that he would have protected him. The second, happened while he was on the top of Monte Siepi. There Galgano saw both the twelve Apostoles and God.
From the day of his second vision on, the legend tells that his horse refused to obey him and stubbornly kept leading him on the top of that hill.
One day, Galgano persuaded himself that the strange behavior of his horse was a sign from heaven, and decided to immediately plant a cross on hill.
However, since he couldn’t find any wood, he decided to plant his sword in the ground instead. After he planted it, the sword became one piece with the stony ground, becoming in this way the famous sword in the stone.
After this episode, Galgano changed life, becoming a hermit and a man of faith.
VILLA MEDICEA
Among all the mysterious places in Tuscany, Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi is definitely worth a visit.
This villa was built in the XVI century as a hunting residence for Cosimo dè Medici.
Cosimo dè Medici was the duke of Florence from 1537 to 1569. He married Eleanor of Toledo and had more than ten children. One of them was Isabella dè Medici.
Isabella was a beautiful extrovert girl who was forced to marry Paolo Giordano I Orsini, when she was 16 – to secure a relationship with the Orsini family.
After the marriage, Paolo Giordano I Orsini left the villa to attend his duties, while Isabella stayed at her father’s household.
The fact that Isabella still lived in his father’s home was very uncommon at the time. However, this was Cosimo’s dicision. Since he was worried about the spending habits of his son-in-law, Cosimo was determined to keep the money of the dowry under his or her daughter’s control.
When Paolo Giordano was away, his cousin Troilo Orsino was in charge to look after Isabella.
However, rumors say that during the absence of Paolo Giordano, Isabella carried an affair with Troilo.
On 16 July 1576 Isabella was murdered in Villa Medicea, probably by her husband, after he discovered her betrayal.
According to the legend, the ghost of Isabella still roams around the villa seeking for peace, making this villa one of the most mysterious places to visit in Tuscany.
Nowadays, Villa Medicea is a museum. In it you can find both many objects belonged to the Medici family, and the Historical Museum of Hunting and of the Territory.
Did you know about these mysterious places in Tuscany? Have you already visited them?
Credits
Original image by LoganArt
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