Studentessa matta
Italian with Melissa, la studentessa matta; exploring life & language with a crazy linguist
Layout Image
  • Blog
  • About Melissa
    • Melissa Muldoon la studentessa matta
    • Studentessa Matta in the News & Guest Posts
    • What people are saying about Studentessa Matta
    • Links I Like & Blogs I Read. Sites that inspire me!
    • Privacy Policy
  • Posts Categorized
  • Learning Italian
    • “Matta” Language & Culture trips. Learn Italian in Italy!
      • 2017 Matta & Lucca Italian School Italian Language Program
      • 2018 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language Program
      • Florence Art History Program September 2017
    • Yabla TV
    • Duolingo
    • italki get 10 USD credits through Matta Blog
    • FlashSticks! Italian language learning on a post it note
    • Cyber Italian : Online
    • bab.la
    • Learn Italian Reference Materials recommend by Studentessa Matta
      • Ultralingua Dictionary & Reference
      • Transparent Language Books & Tapes
      • Amazon: Books, Movies, Music
      • IBS Internet Bookshop: Italy
  • Trips/Learn in Italy
    • 2018 Matta & Il Sasso Montepulciano Language Program
    • 2018 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language Program
    • 2017 Florence
    • 2017 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language Program: September 1-12
    • 2017 Matta & Lucca Italian School Italian Language Program
    • 2016 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language Program
    • 2016 Matta & Lucca Italian School Language Program
    • 2015 Lucca “Matta” Language Program: Photo Album
    • Rome Photo Album 2015 Studentessa Matta & Kelly Medford Language & Art
    • 2014 Lucca “Matta” Language Program: Photo Album
    • Previous Matta Language & Cultural Vactions in Italia
    • What people are saying about Matta Language Vacations
    • Studentessa Matta Language Immersion Programs Travel Philosophy, Refund Policy, Terms Conditions
  • Italian Homestays
    • Florence/Beatrice
    • Bologna/Laura
    • Trento/Garda – Maria
    • Sarzana/Liguria – Sira
    • Pontecagnano/Amalfi Coast – Gabriella
    • Maremma/Tuscany – Virginia
    • Bergamo/Como – Elena
    • Florence/Roberta
    • Sicilia/Palermo – Rosaria
    • Rome – Emma
    • Lago Maggiore – Lucia
    • Rome – Carmela
    • Catania/Sicilia – Mari
    • Venice – Monica
    • Pavia & Stresa/Lago Maggiore – Nadia
    • Homestay Italian Language Vacation in Venice with Michele
  • Novels by Melissa
  • MattaYouTube
  • Facebook
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Episodes on the Blog
  • Schools
    • Arezzo – Cultura Italiana Language School
      • 2016 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language Program
    • Lucca Italian School
      • 2016 Matta & Lucca Italian School Language Vacation
      • 2015 Lucca “Matta” Language Program: Photo Album
      • 2014 Lucca “Matta” Language Program: Photo Album
    • Venice – Easy Italian Language & Art History School
    • Florence – Sunflower Italian Culture Through Language
  • MattaDesign
  • 2019 Arezzo Signup
    • Arezzo 2018
  • 2019 Montepulciano Signup
    • 2018 Montepulciano

Santa Margherita di Cortona: A Saint encased in glass

By Melissa Muldoon
Friday, April 28th, 2017

È una salita piuttosto difficile quella per raggiungere la chiesa di Santa Margherita a Cortona. Non è per i deboli dei cuore. Seguendo un percorso, con le stazioni della Croce di Gino Severini fatte in mosaico, ti senti come se anche tu abbia il peso del mondo sulle spalle — o almeno sembra che lo zaino, pieno di bottiglie pieno d’acqua sia più pesante del solito mentre, tu sali la strada verso l’alto.

It is quite a climb to reach the church of Santa Margherita in Cortona. It is not for the faint of heart. Following a steep path, that is lined with Gino Severini’s mosaic Stations of the Cross, you feel as if you too carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, or at least your backpack, filled with water bottles, seems heavier and heavier as you wind your way to the top.

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Ma, una volta raggiunta la vetta, sarai ricompensato con una vista stupefacente sulla Valdichiana che ti toglierà il fiato. Mentre fai una pausa davanti alla chiesa in cima, avrai bisogno veramente di riprendere fiato. 

But, once you reach the summit you are rewarded with a staggeringly beautiful view of the Valdichiana. As you pause in front of the church at the top of the hill, you will indeed need to catch your breath. 

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Davanti ai tuoi occhi, puoi vedere il lago di Trasimeno in lontananza, come una tappeto di molti-colori. Sul lato che si affaccia ad est potresti vedere le montagne della Amiata e della Cetona; ad ovest la valle che si apre verso Siena, mentre a nord-est si può scorgere Arezzo.

Before you laid out like a magnificent jewel-toned tapestry, you can see Lake Trasimeno in the distance. Scanning the panorama from side to side, you can make out the Amiata and Cetona Mountains to the east; the valley that opens out towards Siena to the west and towards Arezzo to the north-east.

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Sono andata alla chiesa l’ultima volta che sono stata ad Arezzo e ho intenzione di tornare con un nuovo gruppo di studenti a settembre. La chiesa fu costruita in stile neogotico ed è molto bella, essa celebra la vita di Santa Margherita di Cortona. È considerata la santa patrona delle falsamente accusate, dei senza tetto, delle folle, delle prostitute e delle madri single (in nessun ordine particolare!)

I visited the church the last time I was in Arezzo and plan to return with a new group in September. The church was built in a Neo-gothic style and is quite stunning and celebrates the life of Santa Margherita of Cortona. She is considered the patron saint of the falsely accused, homeless, insane, prostitutes and single mothers — in no particular order.

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Secondo la leggenda, Margherita era una bella ragazza che si innamorò di un ragazzo di Cortona. Un giorno il suo amante non è riuscito a tornare a casa. Lei era preoccupata. Quando però il suo fedele cane si mostrò al suo posto, saltellando e abbaiando, lei lo seguì in una piccola foresta lungo la strada dove trovò il corpo assassinato del suo amante.

As the story goes, Margherita had once been a beautiful girl who had fallen in love with a boy from Cortona. One day her lover  failed to return home, and she become concerned. When instead, his faithful dog showed up, yapping and barking, she followed it back to a small copse of trees along the road where she found her lover’s murdered body.

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Margherita era disperata. Lei era spaventata e incinta di un figlio. Quando poi ha provato ad avvicinarsi alla famiglia del ragazzo, questa l’ha rifiutata e l’ha buttata fuori facendola vivere assieme al cane.Lei rimase da sola e vagava per i campi e le colline attorno a Cortona, vivendo come una mendicante, in completa povertà. Fu allora che decise di dedicare la propria vita alla preghiera. Dopo la sua morte, per celebrare la fede stabile di Margherita, la sua conversione drammatica alla religione, e le caritatevoli azioni umanitarie che ha fatto per i deboli e gli infermi, il popolo di Cortona costruì una chiesa in suo onore.

Margherita was desperate. She was unwed and pregnant with his child. But, when she approached the boy’s family, they rejected her throwing her out to the street to live with the dog. Left alone she wandered the fields and hills around Cortona living as a beggar in complete poverty. It was then she decided to dedicate her life to prayer. After her death, to celebrate Margherita’s steadfast faith, her dramatic conversion and the charitable humanitarian deeds she performed for the weak and the ill, the people of Cortona built a church in her honor.

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Finalmente, Margherita ebbe una casa e un posto di riposo. Però il suo corpo non fu nè internato né sepolto. Bensì, è stato messo in mostra nell’altare maggiore della chiesa.Dal momento che aveva gironzolato per tutta la vita, forse hanno voluto tenere un occhio su di lei dopo la morte, in modo che lei non si alzasse e cominciasse a vagare di nuovo!

Finally, Margherita had a home and a resting place. But, her body wasn’t interned or put in the earth. Instead, it was put on display in the main altar of the church. Since she wandered around so much during her life, perhaps they wanted to keep tabs on her in death, so that she didn’t get up and start drifting around again!

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

Venite con me ad Arezzo in autunno per studiare la cultura italiana. Saremo lì per la Giostra e parteciperemo alla Sagra della Porchetta. Mangeremo bene e faremo cose divertenti come guardare la mummia di Santa Margherita nella chiesa dedicata a lei in cima alla collina più alta di Cortona.

Come with me to Arezzo next fall to study at Cultura Italiana. We will be there for the Jousting Festival and will be participating in the local Porchetta Sagra. We will eat well and do fun things like looking at the mummy of Santa Margherita in the church dedicated to her on top of the highest hill in Cortona.

Per più informazione del programma a Settembre cliccate qui!

For more information about the September program click here!

Post scriptum: la prossima volta potremmo optare per prendere le automobili in cima, ma visto che dopo aver mangiato tutta quella pasta e porchetta avremo bisogno di un po’ di esercizio!

P.s. next time we might just opt to take cars to the top…but after eating all that pasta and porchetta, we might just need the exercise!

santa-margherita-di-cortona-saint-encased-glass

If you liked this post you might like these about Arezzo too:

Paola Testi Talks about Cultura Italiana Arezzo

Bella Arezzo! Lovely Pictures to get you ready to go to Arezzo!

La Giostra del Saracino! Travel back in time to Arezzo – Youtube Video

Please follow and like us:
Categories : language learning
Tags : Cortona, Patron saint homeless, patron saint insane, Patron saint unwed mothers, Santa Margherita

Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you!

Click here to cancel reply.

Top Language Lovers 2017 Ranked Top 100 Language Lovers Bab.La/Lexiophiles

Dreaming Sophia Melissa's Novel Set in Italy 1st place Adult Fiction 2018 Reader Views Literary Awards.

Subscribe to the Matta Blog Receive posts, Newsletters and language tips via email

Email_Widget2Melissa@StudentessaMatta.com

Search hotels and more...

Destination

Check-in date

Check-out date

Booking.com
aboutme

Visit Melissa's Author Site For more information on all my books, Italian trips & creative projects: MelissaMuldoon.com

Search for articles

Sophi_MelissaMeeting Sophia Loren: A Dream Comes True!

socialmedia_facebooksocialmedia_twittersocialmedia_googlesocialmedia_instagramsocialmedia_youtube socialmedia_linkinsocialmedia_tumblersocialmedia_pinterestsocialmedia_aboutmesearch dreamingavatar

ItalyMag_2014_1Visit Italy Magazine Page

YoutubeWidgetStudentessa Matta YouTube

Matta Podcast podcastwidget1

Customer Testimonials
Powered by Reach150

Italian Language Homestays

Links_like4Links I Like & Blogs I Read

Archives

Recent Comments

  • James Peters on Stammi bene! Take it easy!
  • Gustavo Capuccio on New! Homestay Italian language vacation in Florence with Beatrice
  • Charles Perrone on Roberta torna con un’altra “pillola” di grammatica

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org
Studentessa matta
Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved
 
Subscribe to the Matta Blog and Receive posts, newsletters and language tips via email.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.