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| Plague cross in Torazza |
During the spread of the plague, the faithful gathered in prayer around outdoor altars to avoid contagion to which they were exposed indoors.[3] At the end of the plague the altars were dismantled but, in gratitude, these plague crosses were erected by survivors in their place. The remaining crosses are in the Piazza Roma, next to the Church of Saint Bartholomew; in Viale Lombardia, not far from the old cemetery and in Torazza. The cross in San Damiano is now lost. At the top of all these monuments there is the symbol of the cross, supported by architectural details including spheres, cones, and capitals. In some cases the pillars contain, often illegible, inscriptions.
Remember this is the sixteenth century. They knew then about social distancing and not gathering in groups.
