The usual struggle squeezing my bloated Citroën, absurdly…
“The usual struggle squeezing my bloated Citroën, absurdly named “Picasso,” in or out of any old Italian town. I should be taking a year over this and doing it on a donkey. Eventually found the road to the church of the Madonna of San Biagio, a foursquare temple sitting all alone in the plain. Sangallo's fantasy of the Doric order in honey-colored sandstone, with shell-niches, rosettes, oculi under heavy entablatures. Any one ignorant of geometry scarcely dare enter this shrine to number, measure, and weight. So clean and crisp I could eat it for breakfast.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He describes the difficulty of navigating a cramped car in an old town, then marvels at a solitary, geometrically perfect church.
In simple terms: He struggles with a small car, then admires a beautiful church.
Appreciate simple beauty.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- road trips
- cultural tours
- photography
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does architecture affect mood?
- What draws you to historic sites?
Beauty can be found in unexpected places.