CANOSSA

'Canossa' is a comune and castle town in Emilia-Romagna, famous as the site where Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV did penance in 1077, standing three days bare-headed in the snow, in order to reverse his excommunication by Pope Gregory VII. The Walk to Canossa is sometimes used as a symbol of the changing relationship between the medieval Church and State.
Canossa has a population of 3,376, and borders the comuni of Casina, Castelnovo ne' Monti, Neviano degli Arduini (PR), San Polo d'Enza, Traversetolo (PR), Vetto, and Vezzano sul Crostolo.

Contents

Main sights

Other

Albareto, Borzano Chiesa, Borzano di Sopra, Borzano di Sotto, Braglie, Casalino, Cavandola, Ceredolo de' Coppi Nuovo, Ceredolo dei Coppi, Cerezzola, Ciano d'Enza, Compiano, Crognolo, Currada, Dirotte, Fornace, Gazzolo, Iagarone, Massalica, Monchio delle Olle e Trinità, Pietranera, Roncovetro, Rossena, Selva, Selvapiana, Solara, Vedriano, Verlano.

Main sights

Canossa Castle was built around the middle of the 10th century by Adalberto Atto, son of Sigifred of Lucca. It was inherited by Matilda of Tuscany, the principal Italian supporter of Pope Gregory VII, in 1052. Matilde died in 1115 in Mantuan territory.
The fortress was destroyed by invaders from Reggio in 1256.
Perched spectacularly on top of the white cliffs of the Apennines, the castle is an abandoned ruin today. Because of its historical importance each year more than 30,000 tourists come here, especially from Germany.
The church of'' San Apollonio ''within the walls, contemporary of the castle, was also destroyed, only the christening font remains, preserved in the national museum "N. Campanini" next to the remains of the wall.

Other

Saint Magdalen of Canossa is an Italian saint of the early 19th century, who set up the Institute of the Daughters of Charity and in whose name the Canossian schools have been set up in many countries.
==''Frazioni''

Albareto, Borzano Chiesa, Borzano di Sopra, Borzano di Sotto, Braglie, Casalino, Cavandola, Ceredolo de' Coppi Nuovo, Ceredolo dei Coppi, Cerezzola, Ciano d'Enza, Compiano, Crognolo, Currada, Dirotte, Fornace, Gazzolo, Iagarone, Massalica, Monchio delle Olle e Trinità, Pietranera, Roncovetro, Rossena, Selva, Selvapiana, Solara, Vedriano, Verlano.

See also==

★ Walk to Canossa

★ Matilda of Tuscany