
Castello del Catajo
Located in Battaglia Terme, in the province of Padua, it is a feudal castle, a stately residence, a military quarters — all this is the fascinating Castello del Cataio.
A place of culture, charm, legends and ghosts that still wander among the spacious halls.
Its very name has been the subject of fascinating conjectures.
Some link the name to Marco Polo and his visit to exotic Cathay; but the reality is much simpler — in fact, the place where the building stands bears the name of Ca’ del Tajo, which means “estate of the cut”.
A castle and a ghost are always a perfect match, and in this place enthusiasts of the genre will find intriguing material.
It was the night of 14 November 1654 when Lucrezia degli Obizzi (the Obizzi family owned the manor) was ferociously killed by a rejected suitor. The stone stained with her blood is still there, in the castle, and it is said that her spirit still wanders among the walls. Quite a few people tell of having seen a female figure, dressed in blue, looking out from the windows of the upper floors.
A peculiar and mischievous character is the courtesan Gabrina; her figure stands in a niche placed just past the entrance, accompanied by an inscription:
Here lies Gabrina, old and lascivious,
brought here on the crupper by the dashing dandy,
who, though deaf, wild-eyed and lame,
dallied in love as long as she lived.
When approaching to read the inscription one must be careful: often a sudden spray of water wets the visitor’s face.
The courtesan Gabrina appears as a protagonist in some minor episodes of Orlando Furioso.

























