The ghosts of Gradara

Dear friends,


so many years ago (precisely in 1992) I had visited the Gradara Castle , a castle which is well known in Gradara in Pesaro-Urbino.


This castle dates back to 1150 but was rebuilt in the following centuries.
It is known for a tragedy that occurred in 1275.
This tragedy was the story of Paolo and Francesca.
Francesca da Polenta, daughter of the lord of Ravenna, was married to Giovanni Malatesta, the eldest son of the lord of Rimini Malatesta I, also called Gianciotto.
Gianciotto was ugly and lame.
The marriage was done by proxy and instead of the groom, there was the younger brother of the latter, Paolo.
The marriage was celebrated with a deception.
Because Gianciotto was ugly, ugly and lame, the marriage was celebrated by proxy because it was feared that the girl would have refused her husband.
Unfortunately, bad luck would have it, Francesca and Paolo to fall in love and that they had a relationship.
Unfortunately, Gianciotto knew it and you avenged.
Gianciotto entered the room of Francesca and saw the two lovers.
He wanted to kill his brother (who is trying to escape through the trap door but got entangled dress) and Francesca stepped between the two.
Unfortunately, Gianciotto passed them to the sword and both were killed.
Now, it seems that the ghosts of these two very unlucky in love are still in the castle.
When I had gone to visit the castle I was enchanted by the beautiful rooms but one of these disturbed me and (still) when I think rest uneasy.
I'm talking of Hall of Justice, the site of the castle that was used as a courtroom.
That room put me very uncomfortable.
The room was nice (with a beautiful bas-relief), but if I think about it today, a part of me horrified and scared and not in some ways I can not understand why.
However, Gradara would be a case worthy of being treated Zak Bagans .
People talk about strange phenomena in that castle.
Apart from the discomfort of the Hall of Justice,

I do not I noticed nothing.
Perhaps, the words written by Dante Alighieri in his " Divine Comedy "(Canto V, lines 100-108) were not so foolish.
They read:



Amor, ch'al cor gentil ratto s'apprende,

prese costui de la bella persona
che mi fu tolta; e 'l modo ancor m'offende.

Amor, ch'a nullo amato amar perdona,
mi prese del costui piacer sì forte,
che, come vedi, ancor non m'abbandona.

Amor condusse noi ad una morte.
Caina attende chi a vita ci spense."
Queste parole da lor ci fuor porte.





(Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize, Seized this man the beautiful person that was taken from me and still the mode offends me.Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving, I took delight in him so strongly, that, as you see, he does not leave me. Love brought us to one death.Caina awaits him who lives He went out. " These words from them to us out doors).





I advise you to visit Gradara and its castle.
It's worth.
Touching the important story.
To get there, just take the highway A14 Bologna-Taranto, exit at Cattolica-San Giovanni-Gabicce Mare.
Maybe, you could even go in Pesaro and see the stele of Novilara.
So, you would do yourself a great vacation.
Best regards.