A father and his four sons during the 18th century have their lives thrown into turmoil with the arrival of a woman at their villa. She quickly takes on multiple roles of sister, mother, confidant and lover to all, plunging the men into confusion and leading to an almost mythic ending.

Dante arrives at the castle of the recently deceased Marquis Zanetti to sell a book which contains a prophecy that the death of nine members of the Zanetti family will reveal a hidden treasure.

Stefano, a young restorer, is commissioned to save a controversial mural located in the church of a small, isolated village.

A fig tree growing in the estates of Baron Anteo Pellacani has been worshipped since the Middle Ages, after a Saint was supposedly martyred there. The Baron, who was crippled in a fig tree-related accident and has since become a raging atheist, vows to tear it down—until he mistakes a beautiful prostitute momentarily lying on the tree for the Saint herself, falling in love with her. Her pimp, his relatives and the clergy try to take advantage of his newfound faith.