A figure of Venetian folklore: the anguane

In Veneto, the mountain area of the Dolomites has been crossed over the centuries by many populations. Each of them left behind its legends and folklore, which were later reinterpreted by those who came after. There is a very particular popular figure, who could be assimilated to the fairy of other Italian and European traditions. Fairies in Veneto are called anguane, and they are creatures that live in the woods. Being a legacy of pagan civilization, Christianity later tried to discredit these traditional figures by giving them evil connotations. It was said that they had beautiful features, but that from the knees down they concealed horrible features. They had goat or chicken legs with long claws, or even a snake-like tail. Over time, the anguane were assimilated to witches and as such demonized. Even in Veneto there were trials for witchcraft, during which the accused felt as guilty as the judges believed them to be.