Chances are that your door bell will soon be rung by children eager to scream “Trick or Treat!” in the hopes that you will fill their bags with Halloween candy. The three-day observance of All Souls Eve (October 31st, All Souls Day, and All Saints Day) is represented on the liturgical calendar of many Christian churches and is said to be strongly influenced by the Celtic harvest festival. It is the time of year set aside to remember and honor the dead, including the saints.
With a foundation based in honoring the dead comes the natural evolution of scary stories, hauntings, and communications with the spirit world. Almost every country around the globe has its share of tales of the unnatural and people reaching out from beyond the grave. Italy is no exception. Orlando fine dining restaurant, Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, tell the tales of three legendary haunted places in Italy.
- Castello di Poppi: This castle is located in the Tuscan Region and rumored to be inhabited by Matelda, a young and very beautiful woman forced to marry a man much older whom she despised. Her husband traveled frequently and she was always lonely, aching to find love. She began inviting young men from the village to visit her in the night and to make a long story short, after a sordid night of lovemaking, each was dispatched while exiting the castle by stepping on a trap door and falling onto razor-sharp blades. The villagers became concerned about the missing men and stormed the castle, imprisoning Matelda in the highest tower, sealing the tower brick by brick, effectively burying her alive. She died behind those walls, but it is said she haunts the tower window to this day, still begging for someone to come spend the night.
- The Canal Grande in Venice: On this canal resides a beautiful home that no one wants to live in. It was built in the 15th Century by Giovanni Dario as the family home. Giovanni’s son was murdered and his daughter committed suicide all while living in Ca’Dario. Count delle Lanza was murdered while living under its roof and in more recent times, Kit Lambert, manager of the band “The Who” committed suicide by throwing himself down the stairs. It is said that thirteen successive owners since Giovanni Dario left his home have died under suspicious causes or suicide.
- The Island of Poveglia: Legends of haunting and horror abound on the Island of Poveglia. Once utilized as a hospital for those ravaged by the plague where it is said that tens of thousands died and were burned in mass graves, the grounds were rebuilt into an asylum that was used to house the insane. A doctor on staff is said to have tortured and killed many patients and he himself is rumored to have been killed by a mist that rose up from the waters surrounding the island. Screams and cries for help have been heard by visitors throughout the years.
Skip the ringing doorbells this year and come enjoy a fabulous meal at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano. We promise it will be anything but scary. You will enjoy the most outstanding, authentic Italian cuisine at Christini’s, Orlando’s fine dining destination. Call now to make your reservation. Returning diners know that the memory of your meal will haunt and tempt you until you return for more!
