Holy waters

The thermal buildings of the ancient Romans fascinated Palladio since his travels to Rome in the company of Trissino and were reused by him in numerous sacred buildings.

Could it be that the baths, with their purpose of cleansing, purification and well-being of the body, were a reference to the same care of the spirit, to the whiteness and purity that only closeness to God can give?

In fact, the main nave of the Church of San Giorgio in Venice is a perfect frigidarium, the place dedicated to the coldest temperatures, which in its plan incorporates the famous classic thermal buildings. Here again Palladian is the barrel vault that slides on the luminous dome and the divine and the ground come together for a moment, flooded with light.

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