The 'Badalischio' of the Gorga Nera: Casentino’s Loch Ness

Do you like legends like the one of the terrible Loch Ness monster? If you don’t, stop reading! If instead you love 'X-files' stories, here you will find grist for your mill. You might not know that Tuscany also has its monster of the lake, just like Loch Ness! It’s more like a small lake, but let’s not be too picky!

We’d like to tell you the story of a scary creature called Badalischio. The name isn’t as scary as it is funny. What is it about? Let's go step by step, beginning by locating everything geographically. We are in Casentino, a few kilometers from Passo della Calla, precisely in the small lake of Gorga Nera.

Legend has it that due to some landslides that affected the small pond, a terrible creature was released inside. It had the body of a snake and the head of a... there are various versions on its head. In some it is described with a bird's head and with wings like those of a dragon. In most cases, however, the strange being would wear a crown on its head which dropped to the eyes. But what is most scary about this incredible creature are its magical powers: apparently, with its eyes it is able to paralyze the prey while its poisonous breath makes all plants shrivel.

I know what you’re wondering. Has anyone ever seen it? Some of the elders in the area have had some contact with this terrible creature, but fortunately they all survived! There are also those who say that it bears a precious stone on its forehead, a gigantic diamond. Does this seem like a good reason to go looking for it? Or does it seem too demanding? After all, we know full well that no one wants too much to do on holiday. So, still on this 'noir' subject, but a bit more comfort and less risk, we’d like to give you a valuable suggestion: book 'Scary Florence', our private tour on mysteries, legends and noir stories. The chills and the suspense are guaranteed, but with less effort!