Case file · Witch trials
Witches of Santa Catarina Island
From 1946 the artist Franklin Cascaes collected stories of witches in the Azorean fishing villages of Santa Catarina Island, such as Santo Antônio de Lisboa and Ribeirão da Ilha. They were said to suck babies' blood, ride horses at night and sail in shells.
1946 CE · -27.51, -48.52 · status: legend
The account
Cascaes recorded and drew this lore for decades. It came with Azorean settlers in the 18th century. Florianópolis is still nicknamed the 'Island of Magic'.