The dark portrait: When the soul of Villa Clara is reflected in the image
During a photo shoot you usually focus on lighting, angles and composition, but on rare occasions something deeper creeps into the lens, and this is exactly what happened at Villa Clara, as if the environment itself wanted to imprint itself on the photo.
Villa Clara was built at the end of the 19th century and originally belonged to a wealthy family from the Ferrara area. The name "Clara" is believed to be linked to a daughter of the family. Over the years the villa was abandoned and, as its condition deteriorated, it became a focal point for stories of tragedy and the paranormal. One of the most prominent legends is that Clara died in mysterious circumstances and her ghost is said to haunt the villa. Her restless soul is said to roam the halls, and various visitors claim to have experienced strange phenomena such as hearing unexplained noises or seeing shadowy figures.
The best-known tale involves the sighting of a female figure, believed to be Clara's ghost, who is said to appear on full moon nights. Witnesses claim to see this apparition through the broken windows or walking in the overgrown garden. Many paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters have visited Villa Clara over the years and reported unusual occurrences. Some describe hearing whispers or feeling an unexplained presence following them, while others mention technical problems with their cameras and equipment, as if some unseen force is interfering with the technology in the villa.
Lisa Lambertini, a writer of horror novels, organised the shooting at Villa Clara and also set up a travelling photographic exhibition dedicated to the villa.
