Whispers in the Vineyards: The Enchanted Legends of Abruzzo

Did you know that our vineyards were once inhabited by magical creatures? Is it true? ... that's what our ancestors believed! 🌙✨

Grandma Nicoletta and Grandpa Piacentino used to recount to their grandchildren tales of strange presences roaming the rows, of fleeting shadows dancing in the dark, and of mysterious noises that seemed to come from nowhere. ‘Beware of the Mazzamurill!’ they would say laughing, but there was always a flash of seriousness in their eyes. And in the evening, when the wind rustled the leaves of the vines, we would wonder: what if it was all true?

But beware! It was not just our impression: throughout Abruzzo, for centuries, it was believed that certain creatures populated the countryside, woods and remote villages.

Some swore they had seen them, while others claimed to have fallen victim to their mischief. And what if we told you that even today, among the vineyards, you can sometimes hear something strange?

Are you curious? Let's find out together who (or what) was roaming our lands!

The Mazzamurill: the mischievous leprechauns

Small, invisible and terribly prankish: the Mazzamurill were the most feared (and hated) leprechauns of our ancestors. They accused them of all sorts of mischief: hiding objects, weaving horses' manes, displacing work tools and even jumping on the beds of those who tried to sleep. If a barrel of wine mysteriously disappeared or a vine row appeared inexplicably tangled, there was only one explanation: the Mazzamurill were having fun!

The only remedy to appease them? Leave them some food and, of course, a glass of wine. Apparently they were gourmets....

The Pantafca: the nightmare that paralysed nights

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with the feeling of being stuck, unable to move? Well, our grandparents knew exactly who was to blame: the Pantafca.

This dark presence was said to sit on the chest of sleepers, preventing them from breathing. And she didn't choose his victims randomly: she was mainly harassing those who went to sleep with their bellies too full... maybe after a big dinner and a few too many drinks!

And yet, among the vines, Nonno Cataldo used to tell of seeing her wandering around at sunset, wrapped in her dark veil, floating between the rows of vines in search of new victims.

The Werewolves: when the full moon (or wine) tricked the eyes

In Abruzzo, and elsewhere, it was said that some men, struck by a curse, turned into Werewolves on full moon nights. No one wanted to be in the fields or in the woods on those nights, when howls echoed among the hills and shadows moved sinisterly along the paths.

And there were people who swore they had really seen them. Like grandfather Piacentino, who one night, returning home, was sure he had spotted a huge shadow in the vineyard. His heart raced: ‘a werewolf!’. He ran to lock himself inside, his breath catching and the cold sweat on his forehead.

The next morning, the truth came out. The ‘monster’ was simply a fellow villager who had had a bit too much to drink and had ended up staggering through the rows of vines under the moonlight.

A magical land wedged between myth and reality

Today, these stories make us smile, but deep down their charm remains unchanged. The people of Abruzzo have always had a deep bond with their land, a mixture of respect and wonder. We in Palazzo Centofanti, who grew up among the vineyards, like to think that every bottle of our wine holds a little of this ancient magic.