Category: Symbols

The Alchemical Door and the lost Villa Palombara

Along the streets of Rome two different facets coexist, since the historical past, so manifest and imposing, is contrasted by another more hidden, intimate one. It is the dimension linked to occultism and the ancient alchemical rituals of the 17th century, whose memory is for many lost in time, but still vivid and present reveals…
The cosmic temple of St. Michael the Archangel in Perugia

A hillock stands close to the city walls, and on it there is a sacred building that reflects the harmony of the cosmos. The temple of St. Michael the Archangel in Perugia is circular, as symbol of the perfection of all creation, but also image and anticipation of the heavenly Jerusalem. There is an eschatological…
The zodiac at the church of the Purgatory in Tortora

The Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory once stood outside the city walls of Tortora1. An unbuilt place beyond the inhabited area, it also marked the metaphysical boundary of the world of the living, as testified by its use for funerary purposes. The ancient location of the church, later incorporated by the expansion of the…
The Cross Pattée of the Knights Templar

During the Crusades, soldiers and pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem were used to sew a small cross on their chests or cloaks. However, the term ‘crusade’ was only used long after the first expedition to the Holy Land, probably around 1250 [1], because of this symbol. The cross attested to the condition of martyrdom and sacrifice…
Tempio civico dell’Incoronata and the symbolisms of Lodi

In Via Incoronata in Lodi, in the 15th century known as Contrada de’ Lomellini, there was a brothel. However, the intriguing aspect was not the common practice of erecting such places for the enjoyment of rich citizens, but rather that, just in front of a load-bearing wall facing the street, there was a crowned Madonna1.…
The mysterious Christ in the labyrinth of Alatri

Alatri, 1997. During restoration work on a room adjacent to the cloister of Saint Francis church, some colours faded by time emerged from a narrow passage. The building was erected starting in 1220 and its adjoining convent dates back to 13591. Certainly the unexpected room, lost in the oblivion of time, was probably part of…
Valvisciolo Abbey in Sermoneta, a Templar site

On the slopes of Monte Corvino, where the Lepini Mountains look towards the Agro Pontino, there is an abbey distinguished by beauty and simplicity. Valvisciolo Abbey seems to exist in this place since eternity, but its origins are uncertain and lost in time. The forgotten origins of Valvisciolo Lubin, the most ancient and important historian…
The lost tiles of Pieve Terzagni, San Giovanni Decollato

A soft fog was reflecting the lights back towards the deserted road, like dancing figures and projections of shadows. Suddenly, a small flocks of migrating birds passed over the car, disturbing the quiet air of the plain. Here, along the Po valley, is cold and the humidity raises quickly. After a wide curve in the…
Collodi Castle, the lost village

In the heart of the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, there is a fairy-tale village. Steep slopes and climbs, picturesque hamlets enveloped in a magical aura and verdant paths. In the place that gave birth to the puppet Pinocchio, the distant hamlet of Collodi Castle stands out, lost in time more than in space. This ancient…
The Sator Square of Brusaporto Castle

Brusaporto, near the Lombard city of Bergamo, was a lively and flourishing village during the Middle Ages. It is mentioned in the ancient Statute of Bergamo of 1333 with the toponym of Brusaporcho. The reasons for this name, which originates from the local dialect, are not clear. Some posthumous attempts of attribution of a town…