Photos of Paroldo: The magical Italian village that ‘witches’ call home
Magical place: Located in Italy's Piedmont, Paroldo has been home to a group of female shaman for thousands of years.
Silvia Marchetti
Tiny hamlet: Positioned around 80 kilometers southeast of Turn in the High Lange hills, the village has a population of just 230.
Silvia Marchetti
Local hang out: The Masche, or "witches" are said to have once gathered at this altar, which is built on the remains of a Celtic stone pillar.
Silvia Marchetti
Culinary mystique: "The art of preparing homemade specialties is linked to and enhanced by their magic to heal all kinds of skin diseases," says Romano Salvetti, who owns local tavern Trattoria Salvetti.
Silvia Marchetti
Witches brew: Bagna càuda, a creamy sauce made with garlic, extra virgin olive oil and anchovies, is said to the be the Masche's trademark dish.
Silvia Marchetti
Masche territory: Salvetti, who says his mother was a Masche, takes visitors on tours of the village, visiting sites like the Witch Promenade.
Silvia Marchetti
Spooky structures: The tour ends at a tiny chapel built on a stratified cemetery that's known as the "Well of the Souls."
Silvia Marchetti
Eerie decor: Its stone walls are covered in grotesque masks and shaman symbols used to "bite away" evil spells.
Silvia Marchetti
Mystic farmland: The chapel looms over a wide field of bright green grass where, according to Salvetti, night Sabbaths were held in the early 1900s.
Silvia Marchetti
Time warp: Abandoned farms with scarecrows dressed in traditional clothes at Borgo dei Cavallini, the most ancient part of the hamlet.
Silvia Marchetti
Preserving traditions: Salvetti's sister Clelia serves up Masche-influenced dishes like Ravioli del Plin and Vitello Tonnato at Trattoria Salvetti.