The beauty and the beast .... a real italian history

"There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children, three sons, and three daughters; being a man of sense, he spared no cost for their education ...... " This is the incipit of the book the Beauty and the Beast written by Beaumont but now we offer you a slightly "different "version.

Let's continue reading 

CHAPTER IV

..... "You are very ungrateful, (Pedro Gonzalez, the beast said to him, in a terrible voice) I have saved your life by receiving you into my house in Capodimonte and, in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond any thing in the universe; but you shall die for it; I give you but a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself, to say your prayers."

Pedro Gonzalez? Spanish name? Capodimonte? Italy ? WTF !! I did not remember this version.

Pedro Gonzalez's painting

The merchant fell on his knees, and lifted up both his hands: "My Lord (said he,) I beseech you to forgive me, indeed I had no intention to offend in gathering a rose for one of my daughters, who desired me to bring her one." "

My name is not My Lord, (replied the monster,) but Pedro Gonzalez; I don't love compliments, not I; I like people should speak as they think; and so do not imagine I am to be moved by any of your flattering speeches; but you say you have got daughters; I will forgive you, on condition that one of them come willingly, and if Caterina de Medici likes, she marries me.

Caterina De Medici

Is the story becoming confusing and complicated? Who is Pedro Gonzalez?
Why is Caterina de Medici's opinion so important?
We continue telling you the story ... but with the real story inspired the writer.

Meanwhile,  inside the Farnese's Palace ( a.k.a. The Rock)  in Capodimonte, on the lake of Bolsena. 

As soon as Caterina de Medici was gone, Beauty met Pedro

"Beauty "the monster told her," tell me about you while you're having dinner. Do you like the building too? ".

"Are not you the master?" Answered Beauty, trembling.

"No," replied the Beast, "here there are no other masters than the noble Farnese's family, they are the owners of this splendid mansion, I am only a guest, in all sincerity I prefer to call myself a lucky slave. I'm impatient, you just have to tell me and I'll leave right away Tell me something: is not it true that I look very bad? "

"True, yes," Bella replied, "because I am not accustomed to saying one thing to another, but I believe you very much in my heart."

"You're right," said the monster, "but besides being ugly I have no point spirit, and I know very well to be a Beast or savage, now the fashion is to call me wild ... Wild ... because I suffer from hypertrichosis, the hairs cover my face.

Ariosto, I still curse him Ariosto considered the hairs synonymous of wild man The writer wrote about this in the Orlando Furioso, did you know?

"Yes i know" Beauty replied, "but please keep up with your story"
"Come on, eat, Beauty," Pedro said, "I will try, in every way, not to bore you in your new home: all you see here is your stuff, and I would be mortified if I  knew you are not happy. "

"My name is Pedro Gonzalez, I was born in Tenerife, Canary Islands, my beloved land! I am a representative of the Guanci ethnic group. The Spaniards arrived in the thirteenth century. They did not want to believe  we are the only survivors of an ancient disaster. Our elders tell us about an ancient catastrophe. You call them islands, but the land you see, those are the mountain tops. We came from a large island, it disappeared in the ocean "

Beauty dined with a good appetite. She was scarcely afraid of Pedro; but she was surprised when he said to her: "Beauty, do you know you are here because you will become my wife?".

"Yes, Pedro, Caterina de Medici told me and ordered it".

Pedro heard these words and he blushed. He looked her in the eye and continued his story.

"The Spaniards captured  and brought me to Europe in a cage, the trip was terrible. 

I was a king's wedding present.Unbelievable ! Me !A present! 

Henry II

The king of France Henry II. I arrived at his court when he was wedding Caterina de Medici. The French were crazy for me, all  Europe knew the existence of Pedro Gonzalez the Beast!! King Henry II decided to educate me. I am a cultured person, I studied, the best tutors have taught me etiquette and much more. I would have stayed in France if the Valois family had not fallen into disgrace. They gave me to Ranuccio Farnese, refined man and gentleman God always bless him "

Valois's Family

Beauty listened then she intervened and began to speak "Forgive my interruption. The queen becomes the protagonist of our history, in this precise moment. She wanted  find a wife for you, at any cost. She hopes to generate a dynasty of savages, they will obey the orders of the King of France, her beloved husband"

The girl appeared at the window, the lake of Bolsena was beautiful. The sun shone on the blue water. Capodimonte is a beautiful city. The Princes of Parma, the Farnese's family, are very powerful. The building is incredibly magnificent.

Beauty sadly began her story "Catherine has looked for a beautiful and robust woman, and here I am ... I'm happy to marry you. I learned to know you, I met a good and kind person. Your appearance does not scare me, now I know I've found a wonderful person. Yes. I agree to marry you. "

.... And they lived happily ever after, perhaps!

Farnese' s Palace in Capodimonte

Unfortunately, this story is not beautiful. At that time the courts of the nobles collected exotic animals, anyone envied the owner of a savage .

Several artists made paintings of Pedro and Beauty's family. The story of Beauty and the Beast begins to circulate in the mid-fifteenth century.

We like to think that Pedro and Beauty have lived happily, walking on the shores of the lake, holding each other's hand, raising their children in the middle of nature.

Capodimonte - View from the beach

We fear that history was not so happy. 

TOUR OF THE ROCK ( FARNESE'S PALACE)

Opening hours

SUMMER HOURS (from June to September)

Tuesday and Wednesday 10.00am - 1.00pm
from Thursday to Sunday 10.00am - 1.00pm / 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Monday closed

WINTER TIME (from October to May)

Tuesday to Thursday 9.00am - 1.00pm
Friday and Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm / 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Sunday 10.00am - 1.00pm
Monday closed

Cost € 9