The legend of the Zinzulusa cave

“The legend of the Zinzulusa cave refers to a natural cavity discovered in 1793 located along the Salento coast, near Castro, and famous for its clear waters. Popular tradition tells that once, near the place, the Baron lived di Castro, lord of the lands around the town, a cruel and evil character, as well as very rich, who for his wickedness left his wife to die of pain and made his poor daughter dress only in rags. His avarice and greed were such that, despite the large amount of money with which he was provided, he preferred to accumulate goods rather than spend some money to dress his daughter. The child, lacking the care and paternal and maternal love, grew gloomy and sad. One day, however, a good fairy appeared in front of the child, and gave her a wonderful dress, tearing the old and worn one she was wearing. The rags (in dialect zinzuli) flew with the wind until it rsi on the walls of the cave, where they petrified. From that moment, the cave, precisely because its ends were adorned with those rags of clothing, was called Zinzulusa. The Baron, on the other hand, was thrown by the fairy into the depths of the water below the cave, and where he lay down, they sprang from the seabed of the infernal waters, creating the small lake called Cocito; according to legend, the crustaceans that witnessed this event were blinded forever. Instead the little girl married a rich and good prince, and her life changed forever. “

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