By 1300, strappado torture became widespread in the Italian city-states, where suspects were hoisted by their wrists tied behind their backs and dropped, causing severe dislocations. This brutal method was commonly employed in inquisitorial proceedings to extract confessions or punish alleged heretics. The use of strappado reflects the harsh realities of justice during this period and the lengths to which authorities would go to maintain control and enforce religious orthodoxy.

Strappado torture, widespread in Italian city-states during the 1300s, was depicted in Dante's Inferno and other works. This imagery shaped poetic representations of infernal torment and divine retribution, influencing moral and ethical discourse in literature.