Gezicht op de Santa Maria della Spina te Pisa 1860 - 1881

Giacomo Brogi captured the Santa Maria della Spina in Pisa with his camera in the 19th century. Notice the rose windows that punctuate the facade of the church, symbols of light and spiritual illumination, common in Gothic architecture. These circular designs are not unique to Christian structures; they echo the ancient sun wheels and mandalas, found across cultures. Consider how such patterns resurface in various guises, from the cosmic diagrams of Eastern philosophies to the rose windows of Notre Dame. Each iteration carries a sense of order and divinity, appealing to a deep-seated human need for symbolic harmony. The presence of these symbols serves as a focal point, evoking emotional reactions tied to collective memory and cultural heritage. It's a continuous cycle of influence and reinterpretation across time.