Old stories of cannibalism, a photo from Pisa, Tuscany

Photographer's Note

I'm sure the title intrigued you, and now I'll explain. Next to the Scuola Normale that I showed you in the previous post (SEE WS), there is the so-called Tower of Conte Ugolino, located inside the Clock Palace in Piazza dei Cavalieri. The story of Count Ugolino is set in 1200 in the middle of the war between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Captured by the military forces of Archbishop Ruggero degli Ubaldini, the count was imprisoned with his children and grandchildren in a tower belonging to the Gualandi family, called Tower of Muda. The presence and tragic end of the prisoner transformed the name of the building into Hunger tower: the count and his heirs died of starvation there, condemned without food or water. And here reality is intertwined with legend (or maybe not?): It is said that the children and grandchildren died of hunger, Count Ugolino ate their meat. Even the interpretation that many gave to Dante's verses seemed to indicate for this epilogue, however there is no certain evidence

VECCHIE STORIE DI CANNIBALISMO

Sono sicuro che il titolo vi ha incuriosito, e adesso vi spiego. Accanto alla Scuola Normale che vi ho mostrato nel post precedente, si trova la cosiddetta Torre del Conte Ugolino, situata all’interno del Palazzo dell’Orologio in Piazza dei Cavalieri. La storia del Conte Ugolino è ambientata nel 1200 in piena guerra tra Guelfi e Ghibellini. Catturato dalle forze militari dell’arcivescovo Ruggero degli Ubaldini, il conte fu imprigionato assieme ai figli e ai nipoti in una torre appartenente alla famiglia Gualandi, detta Torre della Muda .La presenza e la tragica fine del prigioniero tramutarono il nome dell’edificio in Torre della Fame: il conte e i suoi eredi vi morirono di inedia, condannati senza cibo né acqua. E qui si intreccia la realtà con la leggenda (o forse no?): si narra che morti di fame i figli e i nipoti, il conte Ugolino si cibò delle loro carni. Anche l’interpretazione che in molti dettero ai versi danteschi sembrava indicare per questo epilogo, tuttavia non vi sono prove certe

PaulVDV, pierrefonds, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, ikeharel, jhm, Fis2, holmertz, Royaldevon, everlasting, burmaman, jean113, adramad, alvaraalto, macjake, mcmtanyel heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (62846) 2021-02-05 15:02

Hello Luciano,
Terrible to starve in a country with such a fantastic cuisine ...
But what did the count eat when all his family was eaten?
The legend is likely to attract even more spectators.
It is a very special building with a beautiful window with columns on the second floor and a number of wall drawings at the very top.
Your photo in the WS shows both subjects from your recent photos nicely together.
Excellent quality of both pictures.
Best regards, Paul

emka (158030) 2021-02-05 15:13

Ciao Luciano. Nothing new for Emka. Look here:

https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo1497692.htm
and here: https://www.trekearth.com/workshops/1497692/photo206710.htm

It is a horrible story and this tower looks so nice. Lovely small bell tower and the clock. Interesting to see the Maltese crosses. Nice composition.
Have a nice weekend

MAlgo

pierrefonds (114347) 2021-02-05 15:17

Bonsoir Luciano,

La présence des personnes anime la scène. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails de l'immeuble. La lumière donne de belles teintes aux couleurs de l'image. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

ChrisJ (171794) 2021-02-05 17:36

Hello Luciano,

There are several confirmed cases of cannibalism from Auschwitz, so the rumours are probably true. Desperate people do desperate things. In the 900 day siege of Leningrad, people were eating cats, dogs and even wallpaper sealant! Good sharpness and framing on the old building. Tfs!

Silvio1953 (221463) 2021-02-05 21:46

Ciao Lucino, mi hai ricordato uno dei canti più belli e orridi della Divina Commedia,"la bocca sollevò dal fiero pasto quel peccator, foerbendola ai capelli del cranio ch'egli avea di retro guasto", visti gli usi dei tempi che siano stati condannati a morir di fame è credibile, anche se quel che poi successe veramente non lo sa nessuno, bella la foto e bella la storia, bravo, buon week end dall'Umbria che da verde è divventata arancione e sta per passare a rossa, ciao Silvio

COSTANTINO (116377) 2021-02-05 22:31

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy week end
thanks for your useful notes!!!
in order to understand better
what this photo presents...
a very special building
with a personal story...
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147018) 2021-02-05 23:02

Salut Luciano,
Belle façade bien mise en valeur avec ta photo parfaitement réalisée, bonnes netteté et angle de prise de vue. et puis intéressante note bien bien introduite avec ce titre intriguant, Tfs.

pajaran (115779) 2021-02-05 23:26

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lepa fasada i detalji, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Lepa fotografija i stara arhitektura.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja.

jhm (211736) 2021-02-05 23:44

Ciao Luciano,

A beautiful picture with a nice gate an nice frontage
Also all the people are a nice addition
We get a wide space in the foreground
An excellent composition.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John

Fis2 (170639) 2021-02-06 0:49

Witaj Luciano!
An intriguing story!
Interesting building, I like gate and turret.
Curious clock add flavor to this facade.
Nice scene from daily life.
Good framing, colors and light.
Well done.
Nice weekend my friend.
Krzysztof

holmertz (102604) 2021-02-06 0:54

Hello Luciano,
I suppose there are reasons to be skeptical about stories of cannibalism. Some may be true, some are likely just stories. But that doesn't concern this photo, which shows a very elegant building photographed in a pleasant mild light. My favourite details are the columns on the wall on the left side. Of course I also like the persons on the square who animate the view. The WS has the same qualities.
Best regards,
Gert

GyurMaster (24818) 2021-02-06 2:33

Hello Luciano,

Interesting building on an interesting photo. This time however, the story is even more interesting.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-02-06 4:02

Hi Luciano
A decent shot of the building as main feature, infested by tourists but rather pleasing as they help to rest the eyes on. Simple grab
Best regards

Royaldevon (85862) 2021-02-06 5:36

Ciao Caro Luciano,

What a horrendous story!
There is usually a grain of truth in such legends!
It is frightening just how nasty some people can be to their rivals!

However, we cannot blame you for any of the bad stories!
We can commend you for a a very well taken photograph of the Clock Palace, neatly contained within the frame and made into a fine, social setting by the number of tourists.

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

mkamionka (74311) 2021-02-06 6:09

Ciao Luciano,
charming building and a very interesting story which goes with it.
People are dressed lightly but the day was cloudy.
Nice street scene,
very well spotted,
M

everlasting (19680) 2021-02-06 8:08

what an interesting story to accompany these elegant building, if only walls could talk perhaps we would know more. Fine colours and details.

burmaman (1336) 2021-02-06 9:46

Hi Luciano!
An interseting story about this building and you managed a good shot.The building is well preserved and I like the bell on top.
REgards,Ronny

jmdias (115046) 2021-02-06 11:08

luciano

the building has a special character with this sides in different angles and an arch in the middle. nice details of the note.cruel usages in the old times.

take care

jorge

jean113 (27819) 2021-02-06 11:09

Hello Luciano, we can only speculate as to whether the story is true or not, we will never know.
Nevertheless it is a beautiful building with some lovely features.
I like the presence of the people, they add animation and colour, and not too many to be distracting.
Kind regards, Jean.

SteveH (8220) 2021-02-06 18:07

Hi Luciano, a very disturbing tale to go with this image. Apart from the tale, it looks to be another piece of attractive European architecture, with a pleasant outlook over the square. cheers, Steve

walterantonio (3585) 2021-02-07 5:03

Hi Luciano,

Very interesting story. In fact, quite a horrible story. I remember passing in front of this building when they were in Pisa, but I did not know about its historical importance or the cruelty that happened inside. Thank you for sharing this knowledge.

Best Regards

adramad (72934) 2021-02-07 9:02

Hi Luciano.
I start by commenting on the photo of the WS, a great harmony between these two buildings with their Pisan style, the last one we see today starts with a tragic and terrible story, very typical in the Middle Ages as a construction is beautiful and with a varied facade, they stand out the remains of painting, the Gothic window and the clock, the small belfry with the bell, I suppose it indicates that it has a chapel.
A great photo, with very good color, very well managed both the lighting and the sharpness.
Well done. I like.
Good Sunday and Happy start to the week.
All the best for you.
Luis.

Tue (92302) 2021-02-07 11:24

Hello Luciano,
The façade of this building has got some very nice details which you captured very well and clearly in this soft sunlight. The people are nicely scattered around the square in the foreground as well, which creates a pleasant mood.
Lars

ikeharel (113241) 2021-02-08 8:53

Beautiful facade with the big clock and painted upper walls, Luciano.
I also remember this building in old Pisa town, but did not know about the story told.
Fine distant POV to include the whhole edifice and people in front.
Buona serata,
Ike

alvaraalto (42804) 2021-02-12 5:46

Hello Luciano,
Indeed, an intriguing title.
If you look at the beautiful façade you will not see any connection with cannibalism but your info gives us the right story.
Excellent work
Have a good weekend, groet Rob

dekanski (9357) 2021-02-20 3:04

What a story! I hope it’s just a legend after all!

macjake (98402) 2021-02-24 20:31

Hi Luciano
Ya, that's one crazy story - probably not true, but its a good one :) And what a way to die, dying of starvation is very slow and painful, not the way i'd want to end my final days. These are very pleasant scenes, and nobody is dying of starvation haha. Always good to see new shots of famous cities like Pisa. cheers
Craig

mcmtanyel (68383) 2021-05-22 20:49

Hello Luciano,
A building with an interesting facade and dubious history.
Regards,
MT

aliabazari (22089) 2022-06-20 21:45

Hi Luciano
Beautiful view of this street with the presence of people. Combines well with this magnificent architecture in the background. Clarity and lighting done well. The facade of the workshop is well shown. Beautiful shot. Thanks for sharing