Azzurrina Castle is a a famous country house situated in the hills of Romagna, in the hamlet of Montebello in Torriana, near Rimini.
Also known as Montebello Castle, this ancient manor house is nestled in a…a legendary and mysterious atmosphere, mainly because of the legend of Azzurrina, a little girl who is said to have been spotted in the castle and who is said to be mysteriously disappeared in 1375.
Azzurrina was the daughter of Uguccione della Faggiola, lord of the castle, and his wife, a woman with black hair. The little girl had the distinctive feature of being Albina and to have the pale blue hair, which is why she was given the nickname ‘Azzurrina’.
It is said that Azzurrina was very fond of her secret hiding place inside the castle, where she spent most of her time playing.
Faggiola’s Warbler
Uguccione della Faggiola is a historical figure who was a Italian military leader and feudal lord in the 13th and 14th centuries. He was originally from the town of Faggiola, in what is now Tuscany, and became a leading figure in the political and military landscape of central Italy.
Uguccione was probably born around 1250. He was active during a turbulent period in Italian history, characterised by struggles between city-states and noble families for control of power. He distinguished himself through his military prowess and political astuteness.
Among his best-known achievements was the the conquest of the city of Lucca in 1314, where he established an authoritarian regime. Uguccione later became lord of Lucca and consolidated his power in the region. However, his rule met with resistance and he was eventually overthrown in 1320.
Uguccione subsequently joined the cause of Emperor Louis the Bavarian, taking part in his struggle for the throne against the Papacy. In 1325, he defeated the papal forces at Rovereto and took possession of Pisa, where he was appointed captain of the people. However, his rule in Pisa was short-lived and, in 1328, he was forced to hand over power to the Guelph faction.
Faggiola’s Warbler He died in 1336. His figure remains significant for its role in the political and military conflicts of medieval Italy, as well as for his contribution to the history of city-states Italian. His family, the della Faggiola family, had a lasting impact on Tuscan politics during the Middle Ages.
The Legend of the Ghost
Legend has it that one day in the summer of 1375, during the summer solstice, whilst Azzurrina was playing in his secret hideout, a sort of A terrible natural disaster struck the castle, causing a sudden darkness. When the light finally came back on, Azzurrina had gone missing into thin air, without leaving a trace.
The desperate search to find Azzurrina came to nothing, and her disappearance remained shrouded in mystery. It is said that her mother, in despair because of the loss of his daughter, has she cried so much that her tears have wet a rock near the castle, leaving one blue patch, hence the name “Rock of the Blue”.
The legend goes on to say that every five years, on the day of the summer solstice, the soul of Azzurrina, come back to visit the castle, appearing as a pale blue halo.
This mysterious event has kept the legend of Azzurrina alive over the centuries and has attracted the attention of numerous curious onlookers and enthusiasts of the paranormal.
Today, Azzurrina Castle is open to the public and offers guided tours which allow visitors to explore its ancient rooms and immerse themselves in the evocative atmosphere surrounding the legend of Azzurrina.
