Legend of the Beautiful Castellana of Delia
The legend of the Bella Castellana takes place at the time of the Vespers War, in which the city of Delia took part.
Legend has it that the Count of Delia had a beautiful girl with blond hair and black eyes under his tutelage, named Beatrice. Soon the count falls in love with the girl but the king prevents their marriage. The count then, who wanted the best for his Beatrice, gave her in marriage to the castellan Bernardo so that the girl would become castellan. From their union a splendid little girl is born.
A short time later, however, Roberto Martorana arrives at the castle, sent by the Count himself, who soon falls in love with the beautiful castellan. She refuses the man's court by threatening to report everything to the count but Martorana does not accept this refusal and plans her revenge.
The story is intertwined with the legend: it is time of insurrection in Sicily, the French, although defeated, do not they surrender and advance, under the command of Robert of Artois, towards Delia. Roberto Martorana allied himself with the French, promising the fall of Delia on condition that he was made lord. Thus he opened the doors to the enemy, many soldiers were killed and the Castellan Roberto was shot from behind by Martorana himself. Beatrice and her daughter, hiding in their room, are soon joined by the traitor. Threatened with death, the woman faints.
The arrival of the Count and the soldiers puts an end to this story. Delia is freed, the Martorana brothers are captured and killed, and the beautiful chatelaine marries the Count, becoming Countess of Delia.
