Today I want to tell you the story of one of the most beloved ghosts of the Parmense: the Bema Fairy.

The story of this beautiful young lady of noble birth is tied up to one of the most interesting castles of the Parmense: that of Montechiarugolo.

She was probably born in Cremona, but her family decayed, and she, young and beautiful soothsayer known and accepted also by the aristocrats, she started to make a living reading to make a living reading tarot cards and preparing medicines. She roamed the fairs Northern in Italy, always accompanied by Max, the only servant who had remained faithful to her. Max was a former fighter, and almost a giant, he performed as an acrobat. They were also accompanied by and a little thing, nobody could tell whether it was woman or a child that wore a weird dress, full of colors and rattles. This small figure was probably, the true medium, whose visions Bema put into words.

The three arrived in Montechiarugolo at the fair of Saint Lucia, 13 December 1593. For the occasion, the Count Pomponio Torelli, educated local lord, had organized a big celebration and invited to the castle also the Duke of Parma, Ranuccio Farnese, who loved to go hunting in the woods in the area. Ranuccio was very superstitious, and had banished from his dominions magicians, sorcerers, necromancers and the like, under penalty of imprisonment.

Bema and her friends mounted their small stage on which settled their canvas, white on the outside and back with red designs on the inside. Under the tent there was a table, covered with a black cloth decorated with cabalistic signs and emblems in yellow and white cloth. On the table they had arranged with an orderly disorder wooden figures like skulls, spheres, triangles and an old hoopoe tied to a chain held by a skull.

Bema stood in front of the tent, dressed in a white clinging dress, with long black braids that went down on her chest, she also wore a purple coat, down to her feet. In her right hand she held a black rod, which, thanks to a spring snap, could take the form of a lithe snake.

In the small village there was a big feast: dances and music enlivened the evening, the news of the arrival of the beautiful Bema spread immediately and, intrigued by the fascinating young lady even some nobles reached the small stage; among them were the superstitious Ranuccio, the beautiful Barbara Sanseverino, and the eight years old Pio Torelli, Pomponio’s son. Pio wanted to know his future, but the Bema didn’t want to speak until she was mocked by the noblewomen. Her prophecy was terrible: “I see a pool of blood noble heads floating on it, and I see the head of this child as well as the head of these noble ladies”.

Many thought it was a joke but the bleak Ranuccio, who was terrified, and ordered to jail Bema in the Palazzo della Pilotta, in Parma. The educated and righteous Pomponio Torelli, however could not tolerate such abuse of power, helped by the strong Max and thanks to a stratagem he succeeded in setting Bema free and made her back in Montechiarugolo.

Bema led a quiet life in Montechiarugolo, where the young Pio, became a young man, and fell in love with her. She was conscious of her role, she did not accept the court of the fascinating Count, and she continued to carry out her duties of chaperone of the young countesses. Pio then moved to Parma, at the court of Ranuccio Farnese, and married the noble Ginevra Bentivoglio. The couple returned to Montechiaruguolo, where Pio discovered that his feelings for Bema had not changed; he then restarted the offers of love, but Bema was adamant. Ginevra, however, suspicious and jealous, made a tremendous scene, shaking irreparably Bema. The young lady rushed away from the castle, apparently out of her mind, and began to sleep in an old cemetery and in an abandoned chapel under the bridge Enza. In the end, the trustworthy Max, found her there and took her back to the castle.

Geneva, understanding her mistake, asked Bema for forgiveness, and requested her to stay. Bema remained, pure and hard-working as before, but she knew that her life on earth was near the end and that her spirit would be linked to Montechiarugolo forever.

In those days the sights of Ranuccio Farnese on Colorno became more and more clear. He intended to use of some familiar disputes and bequests in order to take possession of the fief of the Sanvitale. The consequent feudal trial interested the most important jurists of the age.
In order to resolve the issue it seems that several noblemen of the age have conspired against Ranuccio, that should have been murdered in the Abbey of Fontevivo, during the baptism of his grandson Alexander.

True or it false that it is, the conspiracy was discovered accidentally by the hated Duke, and eight noblemen were captured and put on trial on charges of conspiracy. One of them was Pio Torelli. Subjected to a harsh inquisitorial and ignoble torture, they were all found guilty and sentenced to death. The sentence is of 4 May 1612 and it was carried out on May 19.

The castle of Montechiarugolo was thus included in the assets of the Ducal Chamber, but Ranuccio was so frightened by Bema that she was allowed to spend there the rest of her life. She mysteriously disappeared a few years later. She reappears, though from time to time: on May 19th, when she leaves through one of the doors of the castle to go and meet her beloved Pio. Bema also visits the young brides, before the wedding, to give them useful tips for their future life; she also now and then distributes passionate kisses to the visitors of the castle, but only if they are touched by true love!