Matilda of Canossa was one of the most powerful European nobles in her day. She is revered as a warrior for women’s rights and spiritual freedom. Matilda was a skilled leader in both diplomatic and military affairs. In 1076 she negotiated a truce between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. She died in 1115 at the age of 69 and was the first woman ever to be buried in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Would you like to walk in the footsteps of Matilda in the charming Italian region of Tuscany?
Next May, we will be leading a small group of woman through Lucca, with its wide ancient city walls and medieval architecture. In the 11th Century Cathedral of San Martino we’ll see a sculpture of Matilda, as well as the holy Volto Santo – a carved cedar crucifix with the image of Christ, created by Nicodemus, who knew Jesus. We’ll also go to the Ponte della Maddalena, the beautiful bridge built by Matilda in honor of Mary Magdalene.
Registrations are now open for our April 30 – May 14, 2024 Sacred Italy tour. This pilgrimage for women will be led by Tracey Walsh, and it includes three of the most picturesque and historic locations in the North of Italy – Florence, Venice, and the Italian Lake District.
Here are just a few highlights…
- Visit the 1,000 year old Sansepolcro Cathedral, where Saint Francis of Assisi once preached
- In Venice, see Saint Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs
- Tour a centuries old glass blowing factory on the island of Murano (optional)
- Learn to make pasta like an Italian chef at a cooking school in Padua
- Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Garda
- Visit Sirmiona, a city with Cathar associations, built by the Romans in 100 BC, but occupied since the Stone Age
- Sample wine and olive oil at an historic cellar in Lazise, where a family has been making wine for five generations
The group size is limited to 15 women, and we still have a few places available.
See all the Sacred Italy Tour Details Here
Image credit: Mathilde von Canossa auf Thron: Donizio, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons