Osteria di Chichibio

The story of Chichibio has always fascinated our guests and inspires the atmosphere that fills our Osteria

Chichibio is a Venetian cook — humble, witty, and a little cheeky — who is in love with Brunetta. His master, the Florentine noble Currado Gianfigliazzi, returns from a hunting trip with a fat, fresh crane and entrusts it to the cook, who prepares it to perfection. Smelling its aroma, Brunetta asks him for one of the crane’s legs.

At first, Chichibio refuses, but eventually he gives in to please his beloved. When dinner is served, Currado notices the missing leg and demands an explanation. The cook quickly replies: “My lord, cranes have only one leg and one thigh; if you don’t believe me, I can show you live ones.”

Annoyed by the lie, the noble accepts the challenge. The next morning, Currado and Chichibio ride to the riverbank. Chichibio immediately spots some cranes standing on one leg, as they do when sleeping, and hastens to show them to his master. Currado, shouting “hoho!”, rushes toward the birds, which, startled, fly away, pulling out their second leg. Not knowing how to escape trouble, Chichibio replies: “My lord, but you didn’t shout ‘hoho!’ at the crane last night — if you had, she too would have pulled out her other leg, just like these did.”

The cook’s quick wit and cleverness impress the nobleman, who bursts into laughter and forgives Chichibio.

Fourth story, sixth day of the “Decameron” by Giovanni Boccaccio

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