Legend of the "Aironera" di Castelvetrano
The legend of the "Aironera" speaks of the history of mysterious crimes that took place at the beginning of the 17th century in Castelvetrano.
The legend comes from the biographical story of the Duchess Zenobia Gonzaga, daughter of Vittoria Doria and Ferrante II, Duke of Guastalla, and her husband Giovanni III of Aragon, Duke of Castelvetrano. From historical documents it is certain that the wedding of Zenobia Gonzaga and John III was celebrated by proxy, in Guastalla, on 8 February 1607. The woman moved to Sicily where, it is said, she lived with her husband for ten unhappy years. As evidence of the woman's unhappiness, there are two letters, which remained unpublished for a long time, which the woman addressed to her father Don Ferrante.
According to popular tradition, during her husband's long absences, the woman entertained herself at the Aironera with young vassals.
The Aironera is an ancient building in Castelvetrano, the hunting base of the Duke of Castelvetrano, Don Diego of Aragon. The building, also known as "Lariuni", is now in ruins and completely abandoned.
The duchess had many lovers but it is said that, to keep the betrayal hidden from her husband, after the night of passion she had her lovers by one of his servants. Obviously, over time, it was not possible to hide the mysterious disappearances of many young men.
It happened that a young nobleman wanted to find out if these stories were true and courted the woman until he obtained an appointment for a night of pleasure. After the night, when the servant was about to attack him from behind, the noble gentleman reacted promptly, killed his attacker and fled.
The news of the incident spread throughout the country, the duke immediately returned to the palace, called his wife from the Aironera building and had her killed - The young man was already far away and was not the victim of the Duke's revenge.
This is what the legend tells, from history we only have news of the young woman's premature death which occurred in 1618.
