Volterra was originally an important Etruscan city: the ancient Velathri. This is a typical medieval village, surrounded by walls and characterized by the imposing Medici Fortress, an ancient prison. It’s perched atop a hill, between the Cecina and Era valleys, surrounded by the typical Tuscan countryside, among the incredible scenery of geothermal Larderello’s area, the manifestations of the geysers, the forests of the source of the river Cecina and the suggestive salt flats.
According to the book of Stephenie Meyer, author of the “Twilight” saga, in Volterra, hidden among the peaceful local population, live the Volturi, the oldest and most powerful vampire family in the world.
It's all made up. Even the mysterious Feast of Saint Mark, who has never been the patron saint of this ancient city.
A disappointment? ... .. Not at all.
In Volterra, there really is magic and this has ancient origins (pre-Christian), in pagan cults of the goddess Diana and the Moon, in the traditional Italian witchcraft of Aradia, the queen of witches, the protagonist of a real gospel dedicated to her.
Here is the tale hearded from an old farmer who lives in the countryside around the city.
"The pilgrim of the House of the Wind"
There is a farmhouse at the beginning of the climb which leads to Volterra and is called “the
House of the Wind”.
Near it once stood a small building where lived a couple of
newlyweds. They had one beloved daughter. Gradually she grew, and the only thought of her mother, a very devout woman, was that she had to become a nun. But the girl did not like this idea, saying that she hoped to marry like all others. One day, looking out the window, heard the birds singing joyful in the trees, she told her mother that she hoped one day to have a family of her own, like those birds: a happy brood. The mother was so angry that slapped her. The little girl wept, but replied with courage, even if it had been beaten or treated badly, he would find a way to escape and get married, because she had no intention of becoming a nun.
On hearing this the mother was frightened very much, because she knew the character of her daughter, and was feared that she already did that a scandal for the beating he received. She remembered an old lady who was known for her intelligence, her knowledge and her power of persuasion, so she thought, "This is the best person to induce my daughter to become an obedient girl, filling her head of devotions to become a nun."
So she sent this sensible woman, who was immediately appointed as governess and companion of the girl who, instead of quarreling with her guardian, loved her a lot.
In fact, the housekeeper was not Catholic and did not push the girl into a life as a nun, which moreover do not approve of. It happened one day that the young woman thought to heard the housekeeper in the next room, whose door was open, get up and go out onto the large terrace. The next night she repeated the same thing and, standing silently without being seen, she found the old lady who prayed on their knees in the moonlight.
This behavior seemed to her very strange, especially since
the lady murmured kneeling words that the girl could not understand and that certainly not were part of religious services. Having observed this strange fact several times, the girl finally apologized and shyly told her governess what she had seen.
Then the latter, after thinking a little and tying the girl to keep the secret, because it was a matter of life or
death, the woman spoke as follows:
"When I was young, like you, I was educated by priests to worship an invisible god. But
an elderly woman, whom I trusted very much, once told me, 'Why worship a god that
you can’t see, when the moon is visible in all its glory? Love her. Invoke Diana the goddess,
the Moon, and she will answer your prayers. You will have to follow the Gospel of the Witches and Diana, who is the queen of the fairies and the Moon."
Then the young woman, convinced, converted herself to the worship of Diana and the Moon and, having prayed to find a boyfriend, was soon rewarded by the attention and devotion of a rich and brave knight, who was really more wonderful that someone suitor could wish for.
But the mother was furious, and when the gentleman appeared, she ordered him to leave the house because her daughter was destined to become a nun or die. So the girl was locked in a cell on top of a tower and was subjected to severe suffering. It would also die if the mother had been able to establish itself.
Then in the dire need the girl begged Diana to set her free. Suddenly she found the prison door open and was able to escape with ease. Then, having obtained a pilgrim's dress, she traveled far and wide teaching and preaching the religion of ancient times, the religion of Diana, Queen of the Fairies and the Moon, the goddess of the poor and oppressed people.
The fame of her wisdom and her beauty spread everywhere and the people worshiped calling her “The Beautiful Pilgrim”.
The mother, hearing those words, began to hate her daughter and, after many difficulties, managed to put her back in prison. Here again the woman asked the girl if she wanted to become a nun.
To this question the young woman replied that it was not possible, because she had left the Catholic Church and now adored Diana and the Moon.
The mother, considering the daughter lost, handed her to the priests to be tortured and put to death, as used to happen to the witches.
But people did not agree, because they adored her beauty and goodness, and there were few who had not benefited from her charity.
With the help of her boyfriend the Pilgrim got a last grace: the night before being tortured and
put to death, she was be able to go out with a guard in the palace garden, to pray.
She did so and, pausing at the door of a farmhouse, asked Diana to free her from
the terrible persecution to which she was subjected.
In the meantime, parents, priests and all those who wanted her death were in the building,
monitoring that she does not escape.
Suddenly, in response to the prayers of the girl, there started a very strong wind and broke out a terrible storm. A storm that had never seen before, which destroyed the palace and carried away with all those who were inside.
Not even stood a stone or a living soul among all those who were in it.
The young woman fled happily with her boyfriend and married him.
The farmhouse where the girl had stopped to pray still exists and is called by all "the House of the Wind."
The original "House of the Wind"
[From “The Gospel of the Witches” - CG Leland]
Well, Volterra is not the city of Volturi vampires, but the place of Aradia and her good witches.
https://amorbis.infusionsoft.com/go/tin/conniermn/
PAPPA AL POMODORO TOMATO SOUP
Serves 4
Ingredients
stale bread: gr. 300
ripe tomatoes or "peeled" gr. 500
two cloves of garlic
basil
a liter of broth
olive oil
salt
chilli
Preparation:
In a large pot saute the garlic cut into large pieces along with plenty of oil.
When the garlic turns golden add the chopped tomatoes, basil and red pepper.
Add salt and cook for a quarter of an hour.
Pour the hot broth, and when everything starts to boil, add the bread cut into thin slices, which have already removed the crust.
Cook another ten minutes, stirring frequently, be careful it does not stick. Then turn off the heat, leaving the rest with tomato soup.
After about an hour mix well and heat for a while '.
Serve the soup hot or warm with a little 'of olive oil.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
