TRAVERSE 52
Pietralunga. The pilgrimage turned sour when do Lorenzo d’ Arras was accused of killing another man and sentenced to death.
A crowd formed in the town centre, they needed to see justice, what they got was a miracle that dictates the social calendar of Pietralunga to this day. As the axe was about to be brought down, di
Lorenzo d’ Arras turned and faced the Holy Countenance, for it is believed that he was able to see the face of God. In doing so, as the axe came down, it turned, sparing the convicted man’ s life. Numerous witnesses, many people of note within the community of Pietralunga, testified that the miracle did indeed happen.
Today, aside from the monument, the Palio della Mannaja takes place each year in early August and sees a reenactment of the miracle plus numerous other festivities over the space of a week. We would miss it by just a few days, a reason to return. Signs of the festivities were displayed everywhere. Blue and red flags of Pietralunga were hung from
TRAVERSE 52