Legend of the painting of San Giovanni
Legend of the painting of San Giovanni tells of how the painting came to Castanea delle Furie and how the devotion to San Giovanni was born.
According to legend, the boat bound for Messina carrying the painting of San Giovanni stopped in Rodia, on the Tyrrhenian coast, unable to cross the strait due to a terrible storm. To transport the painting to Messina it was then decided to take the Rodia stream road. Along the way, in the place where the Church of San Giovanni stands today, the box in which the painting was placed became very heavy. This sign was interpreted as a will of the Saint to remain in that place and it was thus that a church dedicated to him was built in which the painting of San Giovanni is still kept today. Thus was born the devotion to the patron saint of Castanea delle Furie.
