WHAT'S DAT?

I took the first photo while walking along the pathway leading up to the Church of San Giorgio. From where I stood, the back of a stone sculpture looked like the shape of a football. I planned to take photo of the front of "it" so I could see what this sculpture was about. By the time we were back down to the village square, I saw the other stone sculpture of the three figures (second photo) and forgot about "it". I don't know if we would ever have an opportunity to visit Promontorio di Portofino (Italy) again. So if any readers happened to travel there or someone from Portofino, would you please tell me "what's dat" stone sculpture in the shape of a football was about? Grazie :)

SAN GIORGIO - PORTOFINO, ITALY

San Giorgio - Portofino, Italy - July 2008

The church overlooks spectacular view of the harbour and the cliffs cascading down into the sea below. According to the travel guide, sailors returning from the Crusades brought with them the supposed relics of St. George, enshrined here in the oft-reconstructed Chiesa di San Giorgio. The saint's feast day is celebrated on April 23rd with a ritualistic bonfire on the piazzetta.