Legend of the Lupinaries in Castelmola
Luca Margheriti - CC3.0
The legend of the Lupinaries tells of terrible sorcerers who lived in the ancient village of Castelmola.
It is said that the sorcerers, who resided in the Luppineria district, invaded the streets of Castelmola on full moon nights, sowing terror and fear. According to the legend, the lupineers had the power to transform themselves from human persons into pigs and the only way to make them regain human appearance was to prick them with a blessed nail of the "ugghiata", that is a chestnut shoot of about two meters, used by the yokels.
It is said that on a full moon night two Castelmolesi farmers met the sorcerers at “Pietra Iudio”. From that meeting the two men never recovered and died a few days later, after having narrated the terrible encounter to their families.
