The fame of Saint Christopher spread throughout Europe on account of the “Legenda Aurea” written by Jacopo da Varagine (13th century). According to this text, Christopher was a giant-sized youngster who had decided to put himself at the service of the most powerful man there could be. For this reason, firstly he served a king, then an emperor, and then the devil from which he learnt that Christ was the most powerful of all. This fact brought him to his conversion.

A saintly hermit taught him the precepts of charity. Intending to exercise himself in this virtue – as a preparation for baptism - he chose to live near a river where he could dedicate himself to the travellers wanting to cross over it. One night he was woken up by a beautiful child who begged him to take him across the river. The saint placed him onto his shoulders, but as he moved across the water, the weight of the boy always increased, so that only with great difficulty and by the use of a big long staff, he managed to arrive on the opposite bank. Here the child revealed himself to be Christ and prophesised his martyrdom as being briefly due. After his baptism, Christopher went to Lycia to preach – and to receive the crown of martyrdom.

The pilgrims had a very particular veneration for Saint Christopher, and precisely for this reason, institutions and congregations aimed at helping those travellers who had to overcome various types of difficulties relative to nature, were founded in his honour.