Step

18

Plaque on the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

After exiting the Rose Garden down a short set of steps, one comes upon the little twelfth century church of Santa Maria Assunta. Here you see a marble plaque set into the wall of the church which Diomede Leoni placed for travelers to see as they departed the garden.

D E O . I M M . S
DIOMEDES LEO
QUI MEDITATIONEM MORTIS
UTILISSIMAM ESSE AD VITAM
BENE CONCLUDENDAM IUDICARET
MONUMENTUM HOC
VIVUS SIBI POSUIT
ANNO AETATIS LXIII
A SALUTEM AUTEM
HOMINIBUS RESTITUTA M D LXXVII
VIXIT POSTEA A . I . M I . D

Diomedes Leo
Here imagining his death
Useful for living a better life
Places this plaque while alive
at 63 years old in 1577 AD.
Morto Anno__mese__giorno__

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It appears that Diomede had expected someone to fill in the dates on the plaque, but no one ever did.

We can establish Diomede’s year of death from the fact that his heirs sent several of his possessions to the Medici’s at the end of the year 1590, possibly an arrangement that he had made with Duke Ferdinando d’ Medici before his death. From this fact, can assume he died at age 76.

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Step

18

Plaque on the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

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1

Main Gate at Piazza Centrale and entry vestibule

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2

Central axial path that links entire garden

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3

Statue of Granduca Cosimo III de' Medici

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4

The "Palazzetta" inserted into the 13th Century fortress walls

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5

Belvedere - View of the garden

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6

Lower formal garden

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7

Semi-circular space at the top of the formal garden with statue of Giano Bifronte (Janus)

Step

8

Original Eastern gate entrance (now closed) with Lion Head and Plaque

Step

9

The woods historically named "La Ragnaia"

Step

10

Ghiacciaio

Step

11

Upper terrace

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12

Cassero Tower and Adjacent Guard House

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13

Overlook window with stone seats

Step

14

Visual Terminus to the Central Garden Axis

Step

15

Overlook Terrace

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16

Southern Gate with Lion's Head

Step

17

Plaque with "Platea e via Leonina"

Step

18

Plaque on the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Step

19

Historical commentary

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