Canossa, Medieval hilltop settlement in Province of Reggio Emilia, Italy
Canossa is a commune in the Reggio Apennines that rises on a white sandstone cliff 219 meters above sea level. The ruins of the castle and adjacent buildings trace the outlines of a medieval fortress containing multiple rings of stone walls and various religious and secular structures.
The fortress was founded as the seat of Count Adalbert Atto and also housed a Benedictine monastery with roughly a dozen monks. It gained worldwide attention through the meeting between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII in 1077, which reflected the power struggle between secular and religious authority.
The phrase "going to Canossa" entered European languages as a way to describe humiliation or seeking forgiveness from someone in power. This enduring expression shows how deeply the events of 1077 shaped collective memory across the continent.
The site is accessible on foot with marked pathways through the ruins, though some sections are steep. The Naborre Campanini museum displays objects from the fortress and can be visited separately to better understand the place's history.
According to legend, Pope Gregory VII came to the fortress at the urging of Matilda of Tuscany, highlighting her role as an influential mediator between the conflicting sides. This female voice in a power struggle between emperor and church often goes unnoticed today.
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