Top of the World
It is called Votigno di Canossa and is a small village on the hills of Reggio Emilia, considered one of the best preserved in Italy. It is a reality that has remained suspended in time, situated a couple of kilometres from the historic castle where the Grand Countess Matilde, a powerful feudatory born in 1046, vice-queen of Italy as well as marquise and imperial vicar, dominated the world and invited Popes and Emperors as she was the most important woman of the time. Votigno presents itself with its original stone structure and the buildings that perch around the ancient tower and the small square. Just the tower that stands on the stones of the village characterizes the landscape, and was a watchtower, a defense tower as well as a refuge in case of attack. Thanks to its careful restoration, starting from the Sixties, which has respected its history and culture, it is still very easy to imagine the Ancient Village of Votigno di Canossa in the midst of everyday activities, with its bread ovens, blacksmith's shop, women busy stuffing baskets and chairs and carrying out the daily activities of the past. In the centre it is impossible not to notice a chessboard with black and white boxes set in the ground where, on special occasions, you can also play checkers. Thanks to its beauty, which has remained unchanged over the centuries, Votigno has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its surroundings are also worth discovering, thanks to the splendid walks in the Terre di Canossa, a perfect territory for any kind of excursion. In fact, a new network of marked trails connects the main naturalistic and historical sites of the Reggio Emilia hills: it is a path, called the Sentiero Matilde, which in six stages leads from the cliff of Canossa to San Pellegrino in Alpe, a natural balcony on the Garfagnana, through castles, tower houses, ancient parish churches and sandstone villages. The whole itinerary is entirely marked and tabulated and various rest areas have been set up along the route. Another feature that makes this village even more magical is that it encloses a Buddhist temple within its walls. It is a direct emanation of the Tibetan government in exile. Founded in 1990, it is a unique structure in Italy, and also the first in Europe, where monks and other enthusiasts can pray, attend conferences and immerse themselves body and soul in Tibetan culture. Walking around Votigno, in fact, also means seeing the statues of the Buddha as well as other symbols related to Tibetan culture and religion that are scattered throughout the village. In addition, on Sunday afternoon it is also possible to visit the museum where costumes, photographs and other precious items are kept. In 1999 the House of Tibet was visited by the Dalai Lama himself, who was particularly impressed: his visit is remembered in a small "gompa", a small temple where his images are collected.
