Nel Duomo di Siena : In the Duomo of Siena

Nel Duomo di Siena

In the Duomo of Siena

Those who have visited Siena but have not managed to see the Floor of the Cathedral should make plans to return to the capital of Chianti for the sole purpose of admiring it. Their eyes and heart will be filled with a wonder unique in the world. And unrepeatable. It is not up to me to describe that book of stone which lies within another book of stone: the Cathedral. To do so requires considerable historical preparation. And not only that. One must also be an expert in the language of symbols. Therefore, I can only try to express in a few verses some of the feelings that arose within me while visiting the Duomo of Siena.

In the Duomo of Siena

A path illustrated
with fine inlaid marbles,
figures, scenes and life
from a distant age,
executed with refinement
and lovingly preserved,
bear witness every day
to the splendor of beauty,
to wisdom with sagacity,
of those who once conceived,
designed and accomplished
this work unique in the world,
which in the symbols it embraced
has spoken through the language
of marble stone, finely bound
as though a published book,
revealing what salvation was,
indicated precisely there
upon that holy floor,
and still today a Temple
in the once city of Eneas.
Every honor is theirs,
yet it must also go to the Sienese,
who as keepers of the Treasure
engraved upon that floor
have known how to preserve it
in the casket of the Duomo,
through the passing of time,
the sacredness of the place,
so as to hand it down
and engrave it forever
within man’s memory.

Florence, 4/3/2022 at 10:00, revised 26/7/2023 at 5:48

Image from the web

🇬🇧 Inglese

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