Kursaal & Ausonia

On the second floor of Palazzo Davanzati there is the bridal chamber of Tommaso Davizzi and of Catelana degli Alberti.
This bedroom is especially interesting because there are the frescos with the story of the Chatelaine de Virgy: an intrigue of love, seduction and betrayal that ends in tragedy.

This story appeared for the first time in France around 1280 and quickly became very popular.
The adventures of the Burgundy Chatelaine and of William Cavalier (the Knight), their thwarted love, the jaleous and cruel love of the "Duchess of Burgundy" quickly enteres all foreign literatures. The story of the Dame de Virgy was translated in English, German, Dutch but it was in Italy that became incredibly famous.
The story
The duke of Burgundy goes hunting and his wife the Duchess invites to the castle William Cavalier for palying chess. She tries to seduce him but in vain because he is secretly in love with the Chatelaine de Virgy (look at the first scenes of the fresco).
The duchess, refused by the young knight, is very offended and when her husband comes back she accuses the knight of having tried to seduce her. The Duke convenes William who, to prove his innocence, invites him to observe them when alone with the Duchess and pretends to be in love with her.
The very angry Duke would like to punish his wife but she not only manages to calm him down, going to bed with him (you actually see the topless Duchess in bed with him!) but she even manages to be told whom William is in love with!

The wicked woman organises a big party for all the very important people of the region and during it she tells everyone that the Chatelaine and William Cavalier are lovers.
For shame the Chatelaine kills herself with a sword. William does the same, seeing his beloved dead and the Duke punishes the Duchess slashing her throat.
In comparison to this incredible story, our today soap operas are nothing but short stories for kids!

We would like to remind you that you can ask for assistance to Hotel Kursaal & Ausonia  if you have decided to see with your own eyes. The reservation is in fact necessary to see this part of the museum (visits at 10.00, 11.00 and 12.00 a.m.).