Archive for 'Legends'

Stay in a fabulous holiday rental in Venice and visit the spots where this story is based!

One upon a time in Venice an old fisherman lived and worked. This honest and hardworking man had few possessions besides his boat and nets but he was happy with his lot. Every night when he finished his work, he rowed up beneath the large marble bridge near the palace of the Doges, anchored and slept there soundly till morning. He loved his simple life and regarded this sheltering bridge as his ‘marble palace’!

Storms often hit Venice during the winter months but the fisherman was usually safe tucked under the bridge. But one night in February, a terrible storm brewed and raged for three days; Venice was being battered by angry wave torrents and swollen tides! The swirling waters of the canals broke the moorings of the fisherman’s boat and he was swept out into the open. He finally managed to clamber to shore at the steps beside the Riva of San Marco.

He was forced to wait and watch his tied up boat being battered by the high waves. As he watched the storm, a man came down the steps to stand beside him.

Everyone has heard of werewolves right? In Italian they’re called ‘Lupo Mannaro’. In ancient Roman times these creatures were actually believed to be living among humans! Werewolves by definition are men that were born with the ability to turn into nights of a full moon or other magical nights of the year.

Strangely, Christmas night on the 25th December was considered a prime night for men/werewolves to be born!

Why not stay in a glorious holiday villa in Sicily where many mythical stories of these creatures were born!

Once upon a time according to legend, two twin boys called Romulus and Remus were born and they were destined for greatness as their parents were famous in their own right. Their mother was called Rhea Silvia, a sacred priestess and their father was Mars, the Roman god of war.

Their uncle, a jealous man who wanted to bypass the twins’ right to royal leadership so he could be king, plotted to have them murdered. But the servant he ordered to commit this heinous crime instead placed them in a basket and set it floating down the River Tiber.

Italy is a haven of beauty and wonders; filled with exquisite artworks, within majestic buildings, within magnificent urban and rural settings. The cities, towns and villages of this Renaissance country have beautifully protected their history and celebrate it proudly during many festivals and fairs throughout the year.

The imagination of Italy can be beautifully illustrated in some of its most famous legends.

The gorgeous hill town of Montefiascone in the region of Latium is a haven of history, legends and culture. Close to the beautifully scenic Lake Bolsena, this is a town full of treasures for tourists to explore.

Stay only a few kilometres away at a beautiful villa at Torre San Severo with a swimming pool. Here you can relax in lovely surroundings after a few days of exploring all the gems that Montefiascone has to offer.

Begin your day trip here with an exploration of Montefiascone cathedral. Designed by the Mannerist architect Michele Sanmicheli, this cathedral has been the victim of quite a few damages, like a ruthless fire in 1670. But it has been faithfully restored to its former glory since 1893.