Expert: Francesco Marchesani - 3/20/2006

Question
Dear sir,
I am delighted to find you. Iam researching the above and would like to visit these places if they still exist.
I have previously applied to your embassy for information, but so far, have had no response.
Hopefully, Beverley Winfeld  

Answer
Hello,
as you surely know, Edward II is buried in Gloucester Cathedral; however, a legend tells a different story: in 1877, Alexandre Germain, professor at the university of Montpellier, discovered an undated document written by  Emanuele Del Fiesco, papal notary, priest in York, bishop of Vercelli (1343-1348). According to him, Edward escaped from prison, fled to Normandy, then to Avignon where the pope John XXII sheltered him. He then went to Paris, Koln, Milan, and lived for 2,5 years in the castle of Melazzo, near Acqui (nowadays in Piedmont region, northern Italy); finally, he moved to the castle of Cecima (province of Pavia), where he lived for 2 more years as an hermit. He was then buried in the abbey of Sant'Alberto di Butrio: in the small closter, a sign over an empty tomb reads "here is the tomb where was buried Edward II King of England, who married Isabelle of France and whose successor was Edward III, son of him".

The village of Ponte Nizza, to which the abbey belongs administratively, has a web site in English with a few informations:
http://web.tiscali.it/pontenizza/sant_alberto.htm

Please feel free to email me at fmarchesani@hotmail.com if you need further informations!