Poggibonsi's horse and pig

Even Tuscany, like any other part of the world, has its amusing collection of folk legends. These are legends that have been handed down over the centuries to the present day. One of these takes place in the area where Poggibonsi – the Chianti village between Siena and Firenze at the time called Poggio Bonizio - is today located. It all begins with said Gaddo Degli Amerighi, a landowner who enjoyed a certain comfort. He was not as we would say today filthy rich but was nonetheless doing pretty well. So it was that when his beloved daughter Fiammetta expressed the desire to have a thoroughbred horse, the father could afford to buy it. It was a beautiful specimen, and both of them, waiting for the right moment to tame and saddle it, ecstatically looked at him run around in the horse pad.

Unfortunately, one day the horse collapsed on the grass and there was no way to get him up again. The vet, who visited him, ruled that the horse was depressed. As a cure, he suggested adding turmeric and saffron to the fodder .... He sure would have recovered. But if that was not the case... he should have been put down. In Gaddo’s farm there was also a pig who had heard the vet’s words. He was sorry for Fiammetta who kept crying and the father who obviously was highly saddened by that incident but also sorry for the poor horse who was in danger of being put down. He tried in every way to convince him to get up, explaining that otherwise he would have been killed.

Despite the pig’s insistence and the ever-increasing amounts of turmeric and saffron recommended by the vet ... nothing happened, he simply did not want to stand up. So much so that the pig heard the owner ask for a knife to slit the animal’s throat. The pig made one last attempt, explaining to the horse that it was indeed his last chance. The steed evidently got the message and, to everyone's amazement, stood up again. Do you know what Gaddo decided to do to celebrate the rediscovered strength of the animal? He did what was usually done in those times on festive occasions.... he had the pig killed to prepare a good banquet! Don’t you like this ending? After all, fairy tales have a moral that in this case is very clear: it is always better to mind your own business!

Chianti, where this fairytale is set, is a land rich in history and tradition, with stories, tales and traditions that are all to be discovered. It is the land of the hills and their wonderful landscapes, villages and ancient castles but also wine and other delicious gastronomic products. How to enjoy all these fantastic attractions? Simple: with our fantastic Chianti tours!