Preface

How do we give “meaning” to a palazzo that was built long before our existence? It is a work of art, a collection of poetry, a house filled with allegories and imaginations.

The journey to renovate and complete Palazzo Portinai Salviati was long, challenging and at times deeply philosophical. While there were guidelines on the approaches of conservations, the true meaning of the project became a quest to understand the meaning of being human. Many questions were asked and yet answers could only be found slowly and gently along the way, behind each brick, stone and fading fresco.

The project started amidst decaying architecture just like the dark forest in Dante’s Inferno. There was no clear path so one had to walk through the ruins of time, peel deeply into layers of dust, and wander among the remains of history, tales and fictions, before earning the right to peek into the light behind Dante’s door to Paradiso.

If it was “the love that moves the Sun and the other stars” that guided Dante through his treacherous journey, what has led to the completion of Palazzo Portinari Salviati is our love and our belief in being human.

In the year 2022 while the world is still plagued by pandemics, warfares and the looming threats of climate change, Palazzo Portinari Salviati stands transformed once again in the heart of Florence. Its metamorphosis shows not only the beauty of the Renaissance but also what human life can do as its best. As Palazzo Portinari Salviati shines once more, so does the spirit of humanism. The difference between good and bad, kindness and cruelty, sustainability and destruction, depends solely on the directions of our hearts.

Come to Palazzo Portinari. Savor its beauty with each step, feel its history with each touch, and ignite the Renaissance of the 21st century–a scientific, philosophical and desperate search for a more sustainable future.