An adaptation of nine stories from Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th century Decameron:
• A young Sicilian is swindled twice, but ends up rich;
• A man poses as a deaf-mute in a convent of curious nuns;
• A woman must hide her lover when her husband comes home early;
• A scoundrel fools a priest on his deathbed;
• Three brothers take revenge on their sister's lover;
• A young girl sleeps on the roof to meet her boyfriend at night;
• A group of painters wait for inspiration;
• A crafty priest attempts to seduce his friend's wife;
• Two friends make a pact to find out what happens after death.
Pasolini is up to his old tricks satirizing the Church, and throwing in liberal doses of life and love.