«Una pietra della quale si servono le genti cattive». Inquisizione e sortilegi a Siena nella prima età moderna, in «Rivista di storia della Chiesa in Italia», 70/2 (2016), pp. 425-446.

Thanks to the study of the inquisitorial documents preserved in the Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, this essay aims to provide a detailed picture of the use of magnets in the magical practice in the territory of Siena during the modern age. After clarifying the position of the inquisitorial law about this custom, several cases (most of them unpublished) had been analysed and put in relation to a general larger context. This study shows certain data of considerable interest; for instance, we note much more male actors than female and many of the first ones were members of the clergy, who were necessary for baptizing the magnets, but who also appeared active in this kind of practice and sometimes even able to spread the belief that these objects casted supernatural spells.