The 1290 plaque on the facade of the Palazzo del Rettore, with the 'Balzana' of Siena beneath it
On the façade of Santa Maria della Scala are set four ancient inscriptions that recount a significant part of the centuries-old Sienese institution. The first is located at the entrance to Via dei Fusari, above an archway now sealed, on the ground floor of the Palazzo del Rettore, the institutional figure who led the institution from its origins.
On the façade of Santa Maria della Scala are set four ancient inscriptions that recount a significant part of the centuries-old Sienese institution. The first is located at the entrance to Via dei Fusari, above an archway now sealed, on the ground floor of the Palazzo del Rettore, the institutional figure who led the institution from its origins.
The 1290 plaque on the facade of the Palazzo del Rettore, with the 'Balzana' of Siena below it
The plaque is made of a rectangular marble slab in good condition, and is undoubtedly later than the masonry into which it is inserted, since all the bricks touching the vertical sides of the frame are cut. However, it is very likely that it was placed immediately after the wall was built, marking the completion of the palace's construction work, dating to 1290. Below the inscription the heraldic emblem of the city of Siena, the 'Balzana', was placed: a shield divided horizontally, white (silver) in the upper part and black in the lower.
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