MAY 2004: Black Madonna Pilgrimage Extension

Author and astrologer Arielle Guttman and former Roman Catholic priest Joseph Amormino led a Da Vinci Code-Black Madonna tour to France. The focus of the tour was to visit sites mentioned in The Da Vinci Code and also sites relating to The Black Madonna.

The tour began in Paris, France, with visits to the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and St. Sulpice. From Paris the tour headed south to Chartres Cathedral. Joseph gave a sacred geometry lecture before entering the church where our group had the fortune of walking the labyrinth, which is only open to the public on Fridays. The next stop was in beautiful Amboise, in the breathtaking Loire Valley, where Leonardo Da Vinci spent the latter part of his life. Thence, heading south, the tour visited the ancient caves of Lascaux and Rocamadour, where the famous Black Madonna is enshrined. The first part of the tour ended in Bordeaux where we visited the museum, which held many Templar artifacts.

The second part was focused on southern France where we visited the ancient walled city of Carcassone. Our headquarters was Avignon and from there we traveled to St. Maxim where the bones of Mary Magdalene are kept.

Our guide, Joseph, enjoying a muy authentico paella dinner in Ste. Maries.

St. Sara

Driving up steep mountains, we visited St. Baume where we hiked up a steep mountain cliff and beheld the sacred cave where Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life.

The pilgrimage culminated in the small fishing village of St. Maries de la Mer on the southern coast of France where we joined in festivities with about 10,000 gypsies in a 3-day celebration in honor of St. Sara the child of Mary Magdalene.This is an annual event from May 24-26, when thousands of gypsies descend upon the town to pay homage to their beloved Saint Sara.