One day, a long time ago, in the bay where the abbey now stands, a fearsome dragon arrived. The monster had chosen the bay as his home. It all began when an angel appeared to two friends of San Fruttuoso, Giustino and Procopio, who were instructed to follow the angel, and that he would lead them to a place of extraordinary beauty where they could build a church in memory of their companion. The two, escorted by the angel, arrived to the Ligurian bay, that are controlled  by the dragon. The angel decided to face the monster with his sword, and after a long struggle - although the dragon’s strength was really formidable - he managed to defeat it. So Giustino and Procopio built the church in honor of their dear companion, San Fruttuoso.