If you think you can find a real sword in England, you’ve got to visit the Italian chapel to witness the terrific beauty of a real sword in the stone.
The legend of the sword in the stone is usually linked to King Arthur; the surprising thing is that the legend is not any myth, but something that exists in the real world. However, it is not found in Avalon, but in the quietness of Italy. Montesiepi Chapel has the sword displayed for all those who wish to experience its beauty and believe in the legend of the sword piercing the heart of the stone. This Chapel is near the San Galgano’s Abbey in Chiusdino, Tuscany.
About Galgano Giudotti:
Galgano Giudotti took birth in 1148 close to Chiusdino. He spent his youth as a wealthy knight, but in the year 1180, he was so influenced by the words of Jesus that he decided to retire as a hermit close to his hometown. He experienced visions of Archangel Michael, who led him to God and the twelve apostles. This all took place on the Monte Siepi hill. In one of his visions, the Archangel told him to get rid of his earthly and materialistic possessions. In response, he told that surrendering his earthly possessions would be as tough as splitting the stone.
The Rest of the Story:
In order to prove himself in the vision, Giudotti thrust his sword into the heart of the rock and to his surprise, his sword went through the hard surface without any effort. After some days, he went to the hilltop with the help of his horse. He wanted to place a cross there, but since there was no wood found, he decided to turn his vision into reality. He plunged his sword into the rock and left it just like that. After a year, he died and in the year 1185, Pope Lucius the 3rd announced him as a Saint; the Montesiepi Chapel was constructed around the sword in the stone.
Even though the sword was said to be fake and the story was said to be nothing but a myth for several years, according to the recent studies, the sword and the hands, along with the dating results, the metal and style of the sword, surely belong to the late 1100s to early 1200s. This may prove that the story of Giudotti is true.
Even though several people have tried to steal the sword, it has not been dragged out of the stone, yet. On display, you find mummified hands of a thief who may have once tried pulling the sword from the stone. He was suddenly slaughtered by beasty wolves. I don’t know what to tell you about the wolves, but it served as a warning to the other sword-snatching thieves!
Currently, the sword is guarded with the help of a Perspex screen. Thanks to the kind of security this sword has received, there is no way in which any thief can steal it now.
