Discovery. Of sorts.

Kensington Gardens, London, 2009

She started towards a white palazzo she noticed hiding behind a bunch of snow-covered trees and a vast pond of an undefined shape. 

The façade of the building was clad with snow-white marble. The light and shadow effect the arcades created along with incredibly powerful sculptural features on the sides of the façade contrasted with the flat surface of its centre decorated with elaborate decorations made in white gold. The façade spoke perfectly of splendor, there was no doubt in that, yet the statement was not as blunt and in-your-face as that of the Ca’ Diamante’s façade.


The building seemed immense, but she was fascinated by its lightness which – she reasoned – must have been due to its massive windows. The palazzo appeared floating atop the vast, mirror-like pond, where its façade was reflecting in all its glory.

Everything – the ground, the sculptures, the benches, the trees and the shrubs – was covered in snow. The pathway was cleared, though, revealing white marble tiles under the powdery snow. There was no wind here, which was a sharp contrast to the storm raging outside and within the white wall of fog. And it was peacefully calm and quiet with the only sound now and then coming from the wings of white birds flying around and the snow quietly crunching beneath her feet.


/Biankonera "The Beautiful Lies. Legends from the City of Water Mirrors", an excerpt/