Chapter11.Porta Rossa: Discovering Evocative Doorways

Chapter 11. Porta Rossa: Discovering Evocative Doorways

Porta Rossa

© 2004 Daniel Giordan

The doors in Tuscany are extremely evocative and have long been the subject of photographers' attentions. I think part of the reason for this is the fact that the doors seem to collect and aggregate the marks, scrapes, and scuffs of history. They stand as immediate evidence that this is indeed a historic place where significant things have happened. And to be reminded of this historic legacy each time you enter a shop or dwelling is a very "Tuscan" way of integrating heritage into everyday life.

It's also interesting to consider the role that doors play in Tuscan culture. Yes, it's true that they sit on hinges and separate the inside from the outside, but Tuscany is full of even more of these separations. The cities themselves are a canvas of gray and ochre stone, separated from the lush landscape by gates that are nothing more than huge wooden doors. In addition, some of my most pleasant surprises in Tuscany have been to walk through an innocuous porta into an unexpectedly beautiful or significant environment.

And yet, despite all these contrasts and barriers, the region has an undeniably holistic consistency. The green landscapes, gray cities, and passionate people are interconnected in a way that belies the apparent discrepancies. Like two sides of the same coin, these individual characteristics combine to create a totality that is uniquely Tuscany.