Theme trail · 10 stops
Good Witches and Bad Witches
“Not all witches are wicked.”
The word witch makes you think straight away of a wicked old woman, but the legends are more varied: there are sorceresses who heal, fairies who weave, little old ladies who bring sweets. And then there is a true and sad story that must not be forgotten: in past centuries many innocent women were accused of witchcraft and put on trial.
The Janare of BeneventoCampaniaIn Benevento the janare, the local witches, flew towards a great walnut tree, but a broom was enough to stop them.
The MaschePiedmontIn Piedmont the masca, the witch, was a neighbour who turned into a cat at night.
The GiubianaLombardyIn Lombardy the Giubiana, a long-legged witch, was beaten by a plate of risotto.
The BordaEmilia-RomagnaIn Emilia the Borda, the fog witch, taught children to keep away from the canals.
The Witches of TrioraLiguriaIn Triora the story is true: the witches were innocent women blamed for two years of bad harvests.
The MasciaraBasilicataIn Lucania the masciara, the village sorceress, lifted the evil eye and healed with herbs.
The JanasSardiniaIn Sardinia the janas, the fairies, weave on golden looms inside very ancient stone houses.
La BefanaMarcheAnd the kindest witch of all, the Befana, arrives on her broom to bring sweets.
Baba YagaSlavic mythologyIn Russia the witch of the forest can frighten you or help you: it depends on you.
CirceGreek mythologyIn the Odyssey the sorceress turns sailors into pigs, but then becomes an ally.
Next trail: Devils and Little Devils of Italy
Who's behind this
Ciro Simone Irmici
I build websites, apps and games. I built the Atlas with artificial intelligence and I check every card and every source myself. I am not a scholar of mythology: I tell these legends with respect and always say where they come from. If you know a legend from your town, write to me.
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