Saint Bona of Pisa

Pilgrim was unusual for travelling extensively in 12th century

Saint Bona of Pisa led pilgrimages to
Santiago de Compostela in Spain

Tour guides and flight attendants might wish to raise a glass today to Saint Bona of Pisa, whose feast day is celebrated every year on May 29.

Pope John XXIII canonised Bona in 1962 and made her the patron saint of her native city of Pisa, as well as the patron saint of Italian tour guides and flight attendants.

This was because Bona, who was born in 1156 in Pisa, used to take parties of pilgrims on the potentially dangerous journey to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain, where James the Great, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, is honoured.

Bona was born in the parish of San Martino in Guazzolongo in Pisa. When she was three years old her father left home and never returned, leaving her family in financial difficulties.

It is said that when Bona was about seven years of age, the figure on a crucifix in a church held its hand out to her. A few years later, at another church, she saw a vision of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and three saints. She was frightened by the light around these figures and ran away. One of the saints, James the Great, followed her and led her back to the image of Jesus. Bona was to remain devoted to James the Great for the rest of her life.

By the age of ten, Bona had dedicated herself as an Augustinian tertiary to follow the Rule of Saint Augustine and lead a life of penance and fasting.

When Bona was 14, she made the first of her many overseas trips, to visit Jerusalem. On the way home, she was captured by Muslim pirates in the Mediterranean and was wounded and imprisoned.

Saint Bona's remains are preserved in a
glass case in the church of San Martino

After being rescued by other travellers, she was able to return home, but it was not long before she went on her first pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. During the long journey she supported her fellow travellers when they became discouraged, provided them with medical aid and encouraged them to pray with her.

Afterwards she was made one of the official guides along the route by the Knights of Saint James and she took groups of pilgrims on the journey nine times, travelling mainly on foot.

She also made pilgrimages to Rome and to the shrine of Monte Sant’Angelo sul Gargano.

Bona died in Pisa in about 1207 in a room near the Church of San Martino and her remains are to this day still kept in the church.

The facade of the church
of San Martino in Pisa

Travel tip:

The Church of San Martino in Piazza San Martino on the left bank of the River Arno in Pisa dates back to at least 1067 when it belonged to the Augustinian order. It was rebuilt in 1331 and again during the 17th century. A painting by the 13th century Pisan artist Enrico di Tedice has been conserved in the ceiling of the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. Near the side entrance of the church, a large glass case preserves the bones of Saint Bona.

The sanctuary of Sant'Angelo sul Gargano in Foggia
is believed to be the oldest shrine in western Europe

Travel tip:

Monte Sant’Angelo sul Gargano is a shrine to Saint Michael the Archangel on Mount Gargano in the province of Foggia in Puglia. It is believed to be the oldest shrine in western Europe dedicated to the Archangel Michael and has been an important place of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages when Bona took her tour groups there. The shrine became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011.

Also on this day:

1568: The birth of noblewoman Virginia de' Medici

1926: The birth in Florence of TV presenter Katie Boyle

1931: The death of anarchist Michele Schirru

2013: The death of actress Franca Rame

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