Petrarch & Laura
366 poems for a love never returned
The poet Francesco Petrarch saw Laura in a church in Avignon in 1327 and loved her secretly for the rest of his life; from that impossible love came the "Canzoniere," which invented the modern love sonnet.
01Why it matters
Petrarch's "Canzoniere" shaped love poetry across Europe for centuries.
02The conflict
Laura was married and never returned his love.
03The iconic moment
Their first sight on a Good Friday in the church of Saint Clare.
04What survived
The "Canzoniere"; the Petrarchan sonnet.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Petrarch & Laura famous?
Petrarch's "Canzoniere" shaped love poetry across Europe for centuries.
How does the story of Petrarch & Laura end?
Their first sight on a Good Friday in the church of Saint Clare. The "Canzoniere"; the Petrarchan sonnet.
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