<strong>Magical place: </strong>Located in Italy's Piedmont, Paroldo has been home to a group of female shaman for thousands of years.
Magical place: Located in Italy's Piedmont, Paroldo has been home to a group of female shaman for thousands of years.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Tiny hamlet: </strong>Positioned around 80 kilometers southeast of Turn in the High Lange hills, the village has a population of just 230.
Tiny hamlet: Positioned around 80 kilometers southeast of Turn in the High Lange hills, the village has a population of just 230.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Local hang out: </strong>The Masche, or "witches" are said to have once gathered at this altar, which is built on the remains of a Celtic stone pillar.
Local hang out: The Masche, or "witches" are said to have once gathered at this altar, which is built on the remains of a Celtic stone pillar.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Culinary mystique:</strong> "The art of preparing homemade specialties is linked to and enhanced by their magic to heal all kinds of skin diseases," says Romano Salvetti, who owns local tavern Trattoria Salvetti.
Culinary mystique: "The art of preparing homemade specialties is linked to and enhanced by their magic to heal all kinds of skin diseases," says Romano Salvetti, who owns local tavern Trattoria Salvetti.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Witches brew: </strong>Bagna càuda, a creamy sauce made with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and anchovies, is said to the be the Masche's trademark dish.
Witches brew: Bagna càuda, a creamy sauce made with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and anchovies, is said to the be the Masche's trademark dish.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Masche territory: </strong>Salvetti, who says his mother was a Masche, takes visitors on tours of the village, visiting sites like the Witch Promenade.
Masche territory: Salvetti, who says his mother was a Masche, takes visitors on tours of the village, visiting sites like the Witch Promenade.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Spooky structures: </strong>The tour ends at a tiny chapel built on a stratified cemetery that's known as the "Well of the Souls."
Spooky structures: The tour ends at a tiny chapel built on a stratified cemetery that's known as the "Well of the Souls."
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Eerie decor: </strong>Its stone walls are covered in grotesque masks and shaman symbols used to "bite away" evil spells.
Eerie decor: Its stone walls are covered in grotesque masks and shaman symbols used to "bite away" evil spells.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Mystic farmland:</strong> The chapel looms over a wide field of bright green grass where, according to Salvetti, night Sabbaths were held in the early 1900s.
Mystic farmland: The chapel looms over a wide field of bright green grass where, according to Salvetti, night Sabbaths were held in the early 1900s.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Time warp:</strong> Abandoned farms with scarecrows dressed in traditional clothes at Borgo dei Cavallini, the most ancient part of the hamlet.
Time warp: Abandoned farms with scarecrows dressed in traditional clothes at Borgo dei Cavallini, the most ancient part of the hamlet.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Preserving traditions: </strong>Salvetti's sister Clelia serves up Masche-influenced dishes like Ravioli del Plin and Vitello Tonnato at Trattoria Salvetti.
Preserving traditions: Salvetti's sister Clelia serves up Masche-influenced dishes like Ravioli del Plin and Vitello Tonnato at Trattoria Salvetti.
Silvia Marchetti