• Religious Tourism
    • Itinerari

La Via Matildica del Volto Santo

A great route of faith and culture

The Via Matildica del Volto Santo is dedicated to pilgrimage and prayer but also to discovering the territory.

The route, named after Matilde di Canossa, covers lands that were once under the rule of the Countess and connects to the tracks of San Pellegrino, the protector of travellers. From Mantua, it crosses the Apennines to reach Lucca.

A route steeped in history, monuments and memories that has much to reveal about the
pilgrims that left the Germanic regions heading for Rome. In Lombardy, it passed through Mantua, San Benedetto Po, Borgoforte, Suzzara, Luzzara and Guastalla.

Mantua, its natural beauty made even more enchanting by the hand of Leon Battista
Albert
i, the architect of two of the most important churches of the city. The famous
Renaissance architect worked in Mantua in the middle of the 15th century in the service of the Gonzaga family. From the start, his mission was to ennoble one of the most important cities of the Italian Renaissance.

In the centre of the city, he built the Basilica di Sant’Andrea, the largest church in Mantua, which was completed many years after the death of the architect.

Like the Temple Leon Battista Alberti, also the work of Alberti, it has an imposing monumental façade with great visual impact: it displays all his classical architectural knowledge, giving form to really interesting solutions.

The façade of Temple Leon Battista Alberti is a reworking of the elements of a classic temple, while the Basilica di Sant’Andrea was more inspired by a model of an Etruscan-Italian temple. Moving inside, the similarities between the two churches become fewer, especially the plan: the first to a Greek cross layout, the second a Roman cross. Classicism is also dominant here.

The Polironiano Monastic Complex is also worth a visit. Founded in 1007 by Tedaldo di Canossa, it stands on the island formed by river Po and the river Lirone.
Until 1797, after suppression by Napoleon Bonaparte, the monastery played a prominent role thanks to the religious, political and cultural commitment that arose to the benefit of monasticism.

Inside the complex, the three cloisters that make it up can be visited: the Chiostro dei
Secolari
, Chiostro di San Benedetto and the Chiostro di San Simeone, which gives direct
access to the Chapter House, one of the most ancient and important places of the monastery and its directional centre; inside, it is possible to admire the remains of the tombs of abbots from the 16th century.

The visit continues in the monastic Refectory and, underground, the evocative sixteenth
century Cellars, where examples of agricultural carts are exhibited.

The Museo Civico Polironiano in San Benedetto Po, one of Italy’s major ethnographic museums, displays the material side of the rural culture and society as well as the intangible aspects linked to magic, popular religion, local legends and artistic expressions of the world of the Po Valley.

Finally, the majestic Chiesa Abbaziale can be admired, which was restored between
1540 and 1545 while retaining its ancient Romanesque and Gothic structures.

3 reasons to cover the route:

1. Since July 2008, Mantua has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 2016, MIBACT awarded Mantua the title of Italian Capital of Culture. In 2017, Mantua and its province became part of the European region of Gastronomy-Eastern Lombardy, a project that recognises the best gastronomic regions on the continent.

2. Mantua has hosted great geniuses of the past, such as Leon Battista Alberti, Mantegna and Giulio Romano, the creators of unprecedented architectural and pictorial masterpieces.

3. Mantuan salami, pumpkin tortelli and “sbrisolona”, specialities that can be tasted in one of the many trattorias with typical local cuisine during a break along the route.

On the same topic

Via Francigena Renana

A Roman road between Reno and Po
  • Religious Tourism
Via Francigena renana, a roman way between the Rhine and the Po

Churches Bergamo

Bergamo: a city with more beauties than you think. They are silent behind centuries-old facades of churches
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Bergamo, religious tourism

Churches Mantua

Discovering the places of worship of the Mantuan area. To fill the spirit between faith and religious art
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Mantua, spiritual journeys in Lombardy

The Moraine Hill Walk

A 170 km-route to discover the historic and cultural roots of the provinces of Mantua and Brescia.
  • Religious Tourism
The Moraine Hill Walk

La Via Matildica del Volto Santo

A great route of faith and culture
  • Religious Tourism
La Via Matildica del Volto Santo

Medieval cookery at the Abbazia di Morimondo

Gastronomic experiences at the Abbey of Morimondo
  • Religious Tourism
Gastronomic experiences at the Abbazia di Morimondo

Cammino di Sant'Agostino

Retracing the Way of one of the most important figures of history will give an important new dimension to your awareness of life
  • Religious Tourism
Cammino di Sant'Agostino

La via degli Abati

A route rich in history and tradition that runs through a land of utterly unique landscapes, unchanged over time
  • Religious Tourism
La via degli Abati

Churches Lodi

Discovering the places of worship of the Lodi area. To fill the spirit between faith and religious art
  • Religious Tourism
@www.lodiedintorni.com

The Way of the Monks

From Milan to Via Francigena, through the Po. The Way passes through three protected parks, a WWF oasis, monasteries and abbeys
  • Religious Tourism
The Way of the Monks

Corte Sant'Andrea and the Via Francigena

Follow the Via Francigena through Lodi to discover a world of history and tradition
  • Religious Tourism
Corte Sant'Andrea and the Via Francigena

Religious Itineraries

Travel, walking
  • Religious Tourism
Religious itineraries, traveling on foot

La Strada Cluniacense della Franciacorta

Walking among vineyards and hamlets Discovering the Cluniac Abbeys
  • Religious Tourism
La Strada Cluniacense della Franciacorta

The via Francigena

A road travelled for centuries by pilgrims, who headed South and made enormous sacrifices to reach the goal of the longed-for eternal city.
  • Religious Tourism
The via Francigena

Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII

It is located in the area called Isola Bergamasca and is now a destination for pilgrimages linked to the figure of Angelo GIuseppe Roncalli
  • Religious Tourism
Sotto il Monte - John XXVIII

Churches Pavia

The wonders of faith and the marvels of architecture in splendid religious buildings
  • Religious Tourism
Church Pavia, what to see

Lecco: Places and Streets of Faith

The province of Lecco, a treasure trove of faith and culture
  • Religious Tourism
Lecco: Luoghi e Vie della Fede

The monk’s pantry: where to indulge your tastebuds

Guide for gourmands in the monasteries of Lombardy
  • Religious Tourism
A gluttonous guide to the monasteries of Lombardy

From Ca' de Mazzi to Corte Sant'Andrea

Stage 5 of the Monk’s trail
  • Religious Tourism
From Ca' de Mazzi to Corte Sant'Andrea

Cammini della Regina

Percorsi storici da Coira a Como
  • Religious Tourism
Camini della Regina, religious itineraries from Coira to Como