Monuments
Castello di Montebello
This is where Azzurrina lived, the albino child who died in mysterious circumstances and is said to still wander the castle's corridors and rooms every 5 years, on the night of her disappearance.
The Castello di Azzurrina is the fortified stronghold of Montebello, a hamlet of Poggio Torriana, from which the surrounding territory was once controlled and defended. It was home to the feudal family of Montebello, who gave rise to the legend of Azzurrina, forever entwined with the fate of the castle. Azzurrina is the daughter of Uguccione di Montebello, who disappeared on the night of 21 June 1375 and was never found again.
Even today it is believed that the little girl's ghost wanders the castle and that, every 5 years, on the anniversary of her disappearance, she returns home.
Good to know
- Azzurrina's real name was Guendalina Uguccione; her nickname comes from the colour of her hair. It is said that the girl was albino and that her mother dyed her hair to hide her condition.
- The first strange noises were recorded in 1990; further recordings were made in 1995, 2000 and 2005. Visitors get to hear them during the tours.
- Films and documentaries have been made about the legend of Azzurrina, which is said to still haunt the walls of her castle. In 2012, while the latest film about the story was being shot, members of the film crew were involved in several minor accidents.
- Many believe the girl was killed by her own family to hide her albinism, a victim of the superstition that saw the condition as a bad omen.
- The night tour is not suitable for children; the daytime tour is suitable for all ages.
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