A Florentine merchant’s visit to Canterbury Cathedral in 1444

A previously unknown Italian account from 1444 provides unprecedented insights into the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, offering detailed observations that enrich our understanding of its mid-15th-century state and the pious practices of a contemporary merchant. The text, part of a ledger by Florentine merchant Mariano Ughi, describes his voyage to England and Flanders, including a diary detailing his visits to towns, cities, monuments, and pilgrimage sites. This rare firsthand perspective sheds light on both the material culture of the shrine and the devotional habits of a merchant class during a pivotal period in European history.

Sidoli, E., Palumbo, M., & Parkin, S. (2020). A Florentine merchant’s visit to Canterbury Cathedral in 1444. Journal of Medieval History, 46(5), 572–595. https://doi.org/10.1080/03044181.2020.1828149