The Holy Land, 1191. It is the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionheart just claimed victory at the Battle of Arsuf. But his army is not without losses. Dead crusaders are many, their armor bloodied and mangled. Their stories, however, continue beneath the chainmail. Ink paints many of their bodies; ancient tattoos mark the fallen as Christians in need of a proper burial.

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This medieval tradition of Catholic body art is where Loreto, Italy, finds its roots. Home to the Basilica della Santa Casa, and the Holy House of Mary within, Loreto has been a major pilgrimage site since the early 14th century.

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What does this have to do with tattoos? Pilgrims from all over Christendom who made this journey wanted to mark the milestone on their skin. Luckily, by 1500, shoemakers in Loreto utilized their leather-cutting precision with hand poke. Hand poke, from the Samoan tatau or Japanese tebori methods, inks the skin through hand-held, needle-tipped rods.

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The method is still in practice today. Jonatal Carducci, the tattoo artist keeping tradition alive, serves Loreto’s modern pilgrims. From Jona Tatuaggi Lauretani, his workshop on the medieval Via Francesco Asdrubali, Carducci reproduces the sacred tattoos in authentic brass molds. From there, he hand pokes the image onto the skin, utilizing the same tools and technique of Loreto’s tattooists before him.

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“My continuous research into the historic roots of my work introduced me to the sacred tattoos of Loreto,” said Carducci. “Through years of study, I decided to shine a light on the town’s legacy of Christian tattoos, and to reproduce it in a traditional way that respects this ancient practice.”

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Body ink has been Carducci’s lifelong passion. His first tattoo shop opened in the nearby Tolentino in 2002. Years of modern artistic practice led him to the ancient one. Before long, Carducci’s meticulous research exposed him to ancient books depicting sacred tattoos. This eventually took the shop to Loreto, a holy Catholic site and the perfect cradle for Carducci’s unique craft.

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Like medieval pilgrims before them, Loreto’s modern visitors gravitate toward iconic Catholic imagery. According to Carducci, the most popular tattoos are the Sacred Heart of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin, Saint Michael Killing the Devil, and Virgo Lauretana—Our Lady of Loreto, the storied bronze statue of the Madonna and Child displayed at Basilica della Santa Casa.

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For Carducci, honoring tradition in permanent ink tells a story.

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“My story engraved on my skin marks on the body a journey, emotion, or moment in time that lives with me forever,” he said.

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In addition to symbols of Loreto’s rich Catholicism, Carducci free-hands designs with a machine for contemporary, non-religious tattoos. He blends Old World art with the new, constantly improving, researching, and networking his craft.

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“I have participated in many national and international [tattoo] conventions,” he added. “These events always allow me to compare methods with colleagues, including new and traditional techniques. They are the stimulus for constant improvement.”

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In September 2024, Carducci attended Encre Sacree, an international tattoo convention held at Mont-Saint-Michel in France. Not only does the breathtaking, water-surrounded castle share the name of Carducci’s popular design (Saint Michael), but it also provides the perfect backdrop for modern tattoo enthusiasts to discover Loreto’s rich heritage.

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As Carducci continues to bridge the past and present, he remains committed to ensuring that the tradition of sacred tattooing flourishes. Loreto’s ink is a profound reminder of journeys taken and faith embraced. Just as the pilgrims of old carried their sacred tattoos as badges of devotion, today’s inked souls continue to forge connections with the past. They prove that even in an ever-changing world, some traditions endure and forever mark the intersection of faith, history, and artistry. As each needle punctures the skin, it writes a new chapter in the timeless story of Loreto—a story that remains as powerful and poignant as the first mark made centuries ago.

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