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The Legend of Donna Canfora
Capo Vaticano and the Legend of Donna Canfora
Donna Canfora was, according to local legend, a very rich gentlewoman, paragon of virtue and supreme beauty. Widowed at a young age, she decided to dedicate her life to the memory of her lost husband.
One day, however, her maid came home with good news: on the beach at Torre Ruffa, a ship loaded with silk cloth had arrived from the Far East.
Everyone ran down to the marina to admire the marvels on display aboard the ship.
"These are marvels," said the maid to Donna Canfora, "that you only see once in a lifetime. Let's go, Signora!"
So Donna Canfora set out towards the sea.
The captain of the ship came to meet her and said "The fame of your virtues has reached the farthest shores of Arabia and Persia.”
Donna Canfora thanked him and let him guide her to the ship.
Suddenly, however, the crew, upon a sign from the captain, began to raise the anchor and hoist the sails.
One day, however, her maid came home with good news: on the beach at Torre Ruffa, a ship loaded with silk cloth had arrived from the Far East.
Everyone ran down to the marina to admire the marvels on display aboard the ship.
"These are marvels," said the maid to Donna Canfora, "that you only see once in a lifetime. Let's go, Signora!"
So Donna Canfora set out towards the sea.
The captain of the ship came to meet her and said "The fame of your virtues has reached the farthest shores of Arabia and Persia.”
Donna Canfora thanked him and let him guide her to the ship.
Suddenly, however, the crew, upon a sign from the captain, began to raise the anchor and hoist the sails.
The crowd, realising the danger, shouted furious cries and desperate expletives, but the ship was already unmoored and gliding lightly over the calm water. The captain was dragging the beautiful Donna Canfora back to her cabin.
Then, seeing herself alone among those barbarians, she asked to be let free for a moment to say her last goodbye to her home and her homeland.
She stood upright on the stern and looked for a long time at the shore that was fading into the horizon, then, raising her eyes to the sky, she threw herself into the sea, shouting: "Learn, O tyrant, that the women of this land prefer death to dishonour!"
Her blue brocade clothes, weighed down by the water, did not give her a chance to reach the shore and so she disappeared into the waves without ever coming up again.
At that place, in memory of Donna Canfora, the waters turned an iridescent blue, and the bottom became covered with algae, actinias and asterias.
Then, seeing herself alone among those barbarians, she asked to be let free for a moment to say her last goodbye to her home and her homeland.
She stood upright on the stern and looked for a long time at the shore that was fading into the horizon, then, raising her eyes to the sky, she threw herself into the sea, shouting: "Learn, O tyrant, that the women of this land prefer death to dishonour!"
Her blue brocade clothes, weighed down by the water, did not give her a chance to reach the shore and so she disappeared into the waves without ever coming up again.
At that place, in memory of Donna Canfora, the waters turned an iridescent blue, and the bottom became covered with algae, actinias and asterias.