There is a legend surrounding this piece of column. The version I know says that when Saint Paul landed in Reggio he was allowed to speak as long as a candle would have burned on this stone.When the candle finished the column itself started to burn. Not a short speech...
There is an inscription close to the shrine:
Ave columna nobilis,
electro et auro ditior
illaque Mosis ignea
columna fortunatior
quod ore Paulus praedicat
te fulgurante comprobat
te conflagrante Rhegium
Christi fidem complectitur
ergo columna rhegia
hebreos ut Israelitica
in terrae opima transtulit
tu nos in astra ducito
Hail noble column,
more precious than amber and gold,
more blessed by the
destiny than the wooden column of Moses
what Paul preaches with his mouth,
you brightly prove,
with you, burning, Reggio embraces the faith in Christ.
So column of Reggio (this is a play on words: it could be "royal" as well),
as the Israelitic (staff) lead the Hebrews in a rich land,
lead us to the stars.
My translation. Sorry for the mistakes.
