Montechiarugolo, in the province of Parma, is a fascinating medieval village nestled in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. In this place, which offers breathtaking views, there is a fascinating legend linked to its majestic castle. The beauty is the protagonist Fairy Bema, a young woman with divinatory abilities. Her story and the story that involved her are told in the novel "The Fairy of Montechiarugolo", by Antonio Cavagnari, released in 1874.
The crenellated castle, an elegant Renaissance residence
The village of Montechiarugolo was founded in the 1121th century, at the behest of the Augustinian monks of the Abbey of Santa Fenicola. Its castle, however, was built in XNUMX, to defend the territory, on the noble's initiative Sanvitale family. The crenellated manor, an important example of fortified architecture and elegant stately home, stands overlooking the Enza stream and allows visitors to enjoy a spectacular view.
After crossing the drawbridge and crossing the entrance, you enter the gardens, embellished with eighteenth-century statues, and the internal courtyard. These places, together with the magnificent rooms full of tapestries, frescoes and period furnishings, are inspired by the Renaissance period. The frescoed loggia is enchanting, which is accessed from four rooms arranged along the eastern side of the castle. Legend has it that the ghost of Fata Bema hovers in her rooms, loved by Count Pio Torelli, executed in 1612 after the feudal lords' conspiracy.
A story from another time
The castle of Montechiarugolo is also famous for the legend that surrounds it, linked to a young fortune teller and sorceress, well-liked by the local people: Fata Bema. Having arrived in the village in 1593, to exercise her magical art, the beautiful girl performed on a stage set up in the castle, predicting the future of the lords. Here, the fourth Duke of Parma, Ranuccio Farnese, during a visit to the Torelli counts, he lets her read his hand.
Ranuccio, frightened by the occult, orders the arrest of the young woman and has her locked up in the Rocchetta prison. After a long imprisonment, the fairy is freed thanks to the benevolence of the people. Having returned to Montechiarugolo, Bema is hired at the Torelli court where she takes care of household management. The young girl and Pio Torelli, son of Pomponio and Isabella Bonelli, fall in love with her. Bema, despite loving him, refuses her courtship, because she is aware of the impossibility of their love. Fate is truly cruel to the two young people, so much so that Ranuccio condemns the man in love with him to death, accusing him of plotting against him, together with other feudal lords. Pius was executed on May 19, 1612.
Fairy Bema ends her life in Montechiarugolo, where even today she seems to appear to young women on the eve of their wedding to instruct them on their new life. It is also said that, at midnight every May 19th, she returns to manifest herself in the rooms of the castle to mourn her lost love for her.
(Photo: Montechiarugolo Castle, Facebook Page)
How lucky to read this article because at the end of January I will be in Parma and I hope to visit this splendid castle.