Kobold and witch Gostanza

THE LEGEND OF THE KOBOLD AND THE LEGEND OF WITCH GOSTANZA

The Legend of the Kobold

In 1217 in a small village in the forests of the Neckar, near the Via Francigena it is said that a goblin named Tulio, was sent into exile by the Grand Council of the Kobolds and forced to wander forever without being able ever again feeling at home anywhere. Too big shame for the kingdom of fairies and elves, so the goblin started wandering. One day Tulio ran into an old wizard of the woods, moved by his tears decided to help him. The magician gave him a blue stone that was part of his future home, and said to him: walk along the Via Francigena, and when you feel of being close to your destination you can use the white stones, placing them in a place of great transit. The human tied to your destiny will collect them and thanks to him you will find your home. The Legend of Witch Gostanza:

Accused of witchcraft, alone and with children to feed, she helped women to deliver a baby and using herbs and ointments cured diseases. Later on in the country bad rumors started circulating, and people began to think that she was using ointments for her evil purposes. She tried to make herself heard but she was led in chains to the castle of Lari, on charged with witchcraft and was questioned. She was later brought before the court of San Miniato, where began a trial conducted in an unfair manner, by torture and she, exhausted by grief, admitted any kind of weirdness and wickedness. A new inquisitor arrived from Florence, Dionysius from Costacciaro who wanted to question the woman again without chains. The poor woman admitted that she had confessed everything they wanted to know feaingr further suffering. Eventually the trial ended with Gostanza’s acquittal. San Miniato became one of the first cities where the century-old and terrible habit of trials for witchcraft was interrupted.