During their lifetime, Paolo and Francesca were siblings-in-law. Francesca was married to Gianciotto , Paolo’s brother. It was Gianciotto who, by his own decree, ordered Francesca’s death.
The tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca has been retold many times, especially in literature. Boccaccio himself tells us that the marriage between Gianciotto and Francesca da Polenta was based on a terrible misunderstanding, encouraged if not engineered by the leaders of the two families.
In fact, the two families, the da Polenta from Ravenna and the Malatesta from Rimini , were among the most renowned in Romagna.
After a series of external clashes and internal political instability, they decided to form an alliance by marrying their daughter and son.
Francesca, Boccaccio claims, was led to believe that she would marry the handsome and elegant Paolo.
In reality, according to the actual historical documentation of the events, there is little that can be truly verified: the personal details of the protagonists and their lineage. It seems, in fact, that the alliance between the two families was so advantageous to both, thanks to complementary political and dynastic strategies, that the blood relationship became a fact to be silenced as quickly as possible.
For example, it is not known where the double homicide actually took place.
Some hypotheses indicate the Gradara Castle , others the Malatesta Fortress of Santarcangelo di Romagna , but these are only conjectures.
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