It is always fascinating to hear the legends of other lands as they often tell you something about the people or their culture and values – and even if they are not particularly educational, they are always fun and interesting things to know! Of course, a city like Florence, has such a long and rich history that it has great many legends and myths attached to it. In fact, we've already discussed one to do with Michelangelo in a previous post. However, this one is a little more mystical in nature and involves legendary creatures rather than legendary artists. Why not find a luxury villa in Florence and learn even more about its incredible rich heritage and culture once you've heard this tale?
Once there was a palace on Via del Corno in Florence which was home to a gentleman and a goblin. No one else would live there, not even servants, because of the goblin. Locals even went so far as to avoid the area after dark. However, the gentleman was actually very happy with the situation as no one bothered him, thieves stayed away and the goblin did all the work in the house. They lived in peace together, as a general rule, but they disagreed on one point; morality. The goblin was very strict and when the gentleman tried to introduce a mistress to the palace, the goblin would torment her until the two parted ways.
Otherwise, they lived a happy enough life, if not a strange one. The gentleman slept most of the day before pottering around town for a few hours. Then he would return home where the goblin was his only companion in the evenings. They sang, played music together, drank wine, told stories and played many different games such as chess, cards, cribbage, drole, écarté, Pope Joan, bo, brag, casino, thirty-one, put, snip-snap-snorem, lift-em-up, tear-the-rag, smoke, blind-hookey, bless-your-grandmother, dominoes and more. When they needed greater numbers for the games, the goblin invited fairy friends, arguing that it saved wine and food to have guests that didn't require being fed.
The gentleman realised that a dear friend was worth a hundred distant relations.
One night, as they sat together, the goblin sighed and said, “You are a good man and a true friend, it is a terrible shame you are destined to drown tomorrow...”
What could have happened next? In order to find out, read our next post and hear the rest of this tale of Florence.
The gentleman realised that a dear friend was worth a hundred distant relations.
One night, as they sat together, the goblin sighed and said, “You are a good man and a true friend, it is a terrible shame you are destined to drown tomorrow...”
What could have happened next? In order to find out, read our next post and hear the rest of this tale of Florence.
