Come and learn about the eerie legend of the ghost of Bettino Ricasoli who’s said to haunt the castle of Brolio to this day! Tourists wishing to stay for a few days have plenty of luxury holiday villas in the Chianti region in the province of Siena where the castle stands in its centre.
Visitors will learn all about the history associated with this glorious fortress. It belonged to the powerful Ricasoli family since 1141 and was inherited by Bettino Ricasoli in the 19th century. He was born in 1809 and went on to become a man of great importance and power in the Chianti region.
His stern nature and greed earned him the title of ‘The Iron Baron’ and the farmers who worked on his land were terrified of him. He forbade anyone from greeting him with small talk as he regarded this as a sheer waste of his time.
Visitors will learn all about the history associated with this glorious fortress. It belonged to the powerful Ricasoli family since 1141 and was inherited by Bettino Ricasoli in the 19th century. He was born in 1809 and went on to become a man of great importance and power in the Chianti region.
His stern nature and greed earned him the title of ‘The Iron Baron’ and the farmers who worked on his land were terrified of him. He forbade anyone from greeting him with small talk as he regarded this as a sheer waste of his time.
At the age of 68 he was diagnosed with life threatening heart problems and died following a violent heart attack three years later on 23rd December 1880. A terrified maid discovered his body and arrangements were made for his funeral while he lay in a crypt of his family chapel. It was then that rumours quickly spread of strange sightings of the Baron and many feared that he had returned from the dead!
These fears were intensified at his funeral when stories emerged of sudden bitter cold winds blew through the crowd, doors and windows banged violently of their own accord and a supposed swarm of moths scattered the funeral attendants! At one point when four strong men attempted to lift the coffin, they couldn’t, it felt like it was filled with heavy rocks, but when the priest uttered a few words in Latin, it suddenly became as light as a feather to lift. It was now a widespread belief that Bettino Ricasoli’s soul was damned and he had come back to terrorize the people in his anger!
These fears were intensified at his funeral when stories emerged of sudden bitter cold winds blew through the crowd, doors and windows banged violently of their own accord and a supposed swarm of moths scattered the funeral attendants! At one point when four strong men attempted to lift the coffin, they couldn’t, it felt like it was filled with heavy rocks, but when the priest uttered a few words in Latin, it suddenly became as light as a feather to lift. It was now a widespread belief that Bettino Ricasoli’s soul was damned and he had come back to terrorize the people in his anger!
The stories of these bizarre occurrences have greatly added to the legend of the Iron Baron which has earned itself a dedicated episode on a fascinating Italian documentary about the greatest legends in Tuscany.
Related articles on this blog describe other mesmerising legends in Tuscany that could help you plan a thrilling holiday here, full of wonder and mystery!
Related articles on this blog describe other mesmerising legends in Tuscany that could help you plan a thrilling holiday here, full of wonder and mystery!
