Legends about Dracula

The legends about Dracula are among the most fascinating and unsettling in history. Dracula, whose real name was Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, is best known as Vlad the Impaler due to his preferred method of punishing his enemies — impalement. Born in 1431, Vlad became famous for his brutal defense of his kingdom against Ottoman invaders, using extreme methods of torture that fueled his reputation as a cruel tyrant.

Beauty and mystery are the most fitting words to describe this village in Basilicata. Acerenza is, in fact, a charming hilltop village (833 m above sea level), where visitors are captivated by its high walls and majestic cathedral rising from narrow alleyways. It’s no surprise the village has earned a place among the most beautiful in Italy.

This splendid place also hides some mysteries. For centuries, Acerenza was a stopping point for crusaders heading to the Holy Land. Some even say that Hugues de Payens, the founder of the Knights Templar, was born in Basilicata, in a village not far from Acerenza. In the cathedral, historians have found several mysterious and enigmatic sculptures depicting symbols associated with the Templars.

Acerenza has even more secrets to share with its visitors: it is said that a niche within the cathedral crypt hides the Holy Grail, and some experts claim that the cathedral may also hold the earthly remains of the daughter of Vlad III of Wallachia — better known as Dracula.