Tradition has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to St Magnus, Bishop of Oderzo, in the form of a buxom ("formosa" in Italian) woman and told him to build her a church under a white cloud. The church was visited by the Doge and a procession of twelve young girls every 2nd of February. This procession of 'Marias' was to commemorate the rescue of the brides abducted by pirates from Istria and Trieste from San Pietro di Castello some time in 944.
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