If you decide to spend a fabulous holiday to Tuscany and would like to add some intriguing visitor attractions to your tour plans, a visit to Poppi Castle in Casentino valley would be an excellent day trip.
You could learn all about the haunting legend of a pretty yet terrible maiden called Matilda. Visitors wishing to stay in the Casentino valley for a few days have a wealth of excellent farmhouses available for them where they can easily commute to the infamous Poppi castle to learn of its colourful history!
She was the most beautiful woman in the land, desired by all men but she was married at a young age to the most powerful man in Poppi. He was part of the ‘Guidi’ who ruled Tuscany with an iron fist. He was an old man who spent much of his time away on military business. Matilda felt no love for her elderly husband as he was stern of heart and couldn’t satisfy her needs. She was envious of the common people whom she looked upon from her castle, who were free to marry who they wished and seemed to lead such carefree lives.
You could learn all about the haunting legend of a pretty yet terrible maiden called Matilda. Visitors wishing to stay in the Casentino valley for a few days have a wealth of excellent farmhouses available for them where they can easily commute to the infamous Poppi castle to learn of its colourful history!
She was the most beautiful woman in the land, desired by all men but she was married at a young age to the most powerful man in Poppi. He was part of the ‘Guidi’ who ruled Tuscany with an iron fist. He was an old man who spent much of his time away on military business. Matilda felt no love for her elderly husband as he was stern of heart and couldn’t satisfy her needs. She was envious of the common people whom she looked upon from her castle, who were free to marry who they wished and seemed to lead such carefree lives.
She began sending for eligible young bachelors to come to the castle to do some repair work or provide entertainment for her. They would readily do anything she requested as all quickly fell in love with the beautiful Matilda. She basked in this abundant affection and each evening chose one of these men to come to her chamber to spend the night.
The following morning, before sunrise, she ushered them out a back door to avoid being caught in her adultery. But these men were never to leave the castle again alive. They walked across a trapdoor which gave away beneath them where they fell to a bloody death among sharp razor blades and broken glass!
Matilda delighted in her monstrous plans of luring men to enjoy a night of passion with her before meeting a gruesome death but soon the townspeople began noticing the growing numbers of men who mysteriously ‘disappeared’ after working in Poppi castle for a period of time. Rumours of Matilda’s wicked ways spread like wildfire across the land and one ending for this legend tells that the townspeople stormed into the castle in huge numbers, captured Matilda and trapped her in a tower of the castle. They built up all the doors and left her to die a slow death for her sins.
The following morning, before sunrise, she ushered them out a back door to avoid being caught in her adultery. But these men were never to leave the castle again alive. They walked across a trapdoor which gave away beneath them where they fell to a bloody death among sharp razor blades and broken glass!
Matilda delighted in her monstrous plans of luring men to enjoy a night of passion with her before meeting a gruesome death but soon the townspeople began noticing the growing numbers of men who mysteriously ‘disappeared’ after working in Poppi castle for a period of time. Rumours of Matilda’s wicked ways spread like wildfire across the land and one ending for this legend tells that the townspeople stormed into the castle in huge numbers, captured Matilda and trapped her in a tower of the castle. They built up all the doors and left her to die a slow death for her sins.
Today, many people living in Poppi have claimed to have seen the ghost of Matilda, as beautiful as the legend describes and dressed in white. She is said to often stand at the window of the tower she was trapped in, now called ‘Torre dei Diavoli’ meaning ‘Tower of Devils’.
Tourists would thoroughly enjoy the fascinating tour that Poppi Castle offers where they can walk around the rooms where this harrowing tale was woven so many years ago.
This is only one of the legends described in a famous Italian documentary about the legends of Tuscany. You can buy the dvd of which one episode is dedicated to the Beautiful Matelda of Poppi castle via this link.
A related article describes these legends and others that have enriched Tuscany’s history and could help you plan a holiday here with a difference!
Photo credits
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY
Tourists would thoroughly enjoy the fascinating tour that Poppi Castle offers where they can walk around the rooms where this harrowing tale was woven so many years ago.
This is only one of the legends described in a famous Italian documentary about the legends of Tuscany. You can buy the dvd of which one episode is dedicated to the Beautiful Matelda of Poppi castle via this link.
A related article describes these legends and others that have enriched Tuscany’s history and could help you plan a holiday here with a difference!
Photo credits
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY
