They tell a story about...: The saint is the patron of the city and of dioceses of Belluno and Feltre together with Ss. Vittore and Corona. It is celebrated on November 11th. As a proof of the great devotion for Saint Martin, still in the province of Belluno, they have been called the parishes of Bes, Fortogna, Tignes, Vigo and Valle di Cadore, the churches of La Muda, Castoi, Sopracroda, Navasa, Susin, Casan and Montanes, besides the Baptistery of the Cathedral as well as the minor cathedral dedicated to him. Saint Martin was the first father of the monasticism in the western world. Thanks to his virtues, he was appointed bishop of Tours in 371. He died in Candes in 397, during a trip taken for peace talks. His cult became very popular in the entire western and some of the eastern world. In the Belluno area, the Bishop Felice II, about the middle of the sixth century introduced his cult. Historians say that ocular pains afflicted the bishop, and when he was visiting Ravenna he used some of the oil that was burning in the lamp in front of the saint to rub his eyes and of course was healed. Once he got back into his parish, he ordered a cathedral built, that he later dedicated to Saint Martin. In the crypt of the cathedral of Saint Martin, a prestigious painting attributed to Simon da Cusighe (an artist from Belluno who lived between XIV and XV century) which represents Saint Martin who gives his cape to the poor man, another eight episodes of the saint life In Belluno there was also another church dedicated to Saint Martin, where on February 4, 1309 there was a reunion of the "Scola dei Caligari" who were the shoemaker, furrier and tanner. This church, used as a baptistery, was damaged a few times during the course of history and with the 1863 earthquake. After the earthquake, it was rebuilt and now it hosts the image of the Virgin of the Graces, a figure to which people from Belluno are very devoted. This church now is known as the churches of the Graces or Baptistery. There are also many traditions connected with the cult and the legend of the saint in all of the provinces as well as toponyms referred to local legends. One in particular, talks about an ancient story which says that Saint Martin of Tours was travelling through this valley and in order to avoid the devil's persecution he his on the northern mountains of Belluno; there, he tied up his horse to a ring that is still around there somewhere. From this golden ring, the name of the entire mountain was derived: "S-ciara" (=ring). For those who come from the south, the S'Ciara is the first front of the Dolomites: the group of the Schiara. SAINT MARTIN FAIR was instituted in 1378 and it usually lasted for two or three days after Saint Martin's Day. (Atti e provvigioni del Consiglio de' nobili di Cividal di Belluno = old law). He was held in Campitello (now Piazza dei Martiri) and since 1429 it could be held also in Prato della Fiera or Musile oltre Piave. In the 1800's the day of the fair were between November the 12 and 18 between 9AM and 3 PM. In the past the saint's day, November 11, was a day for the fair and the contract renewals, of the agricultural rent and it opened a new seasonal cycle. It was a milestone for the rural year for all of northern Italy. For this reason, Saint Martin's Fair, was the perfect occasion for all of the farmers before the winter. Many of these dates are still observed to this day. In Belluno there is a cultural eno-gastronomic association called "Ordine dei Cavalieri di San Martino" = "Saint Martin's Knight Order" and "Lions Club San Martino".