Brandano’s cross

Brandano went to visit his friend, Emilio Pannilini, owner of the Villa della Fratta. While he was in front of the church, he took the crucifix he always carried with him, stuck it in a stone and said: “O poor Fratta, when this cross is covered with earth, you will suffer the curse of divine wrath”. The inhabitants all heard about this and obviously held what the legendary Brandano said in great consideration. No-one dared touch the cross. However, a century and a half later, when the new owner of the Fratta did some work, he decided to move it higher up, since the rising level of two streams that flowed nearby made it seem as if the terrible prophecy was about to come true. Even Augusto Gori Pannilini, who raised the cross that is outside between the door and the window of the church, despite being unwilling to believe rumours, was rather fearful of Brandano.