Stairway to Heaven

A rare and complex staircase at the Villa Medici of Pratolino, built for Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici in the late 16th century, serves a dual purpose: functioning as a sundial while incorporating small water jets. This unique design, described by philosopher Francesco de’ Vieri in his 1586 work Discorsi delle maravigliose opere di Pratolino e d’Amore, links meteorological science and spiritual ascent to God, drawing from Aristotelian and Platonic thought. The study examines parallels between this staircase and other historical sundials, including those in the Jantar Mantar observatories of Maharajah Jai Singh II (1724–1727) in Mughal India, highlighting their symbolic significance across cultures. Through textual analysis, the research reveals how such architectural innovations reflect divine wonder and spiritual symbolism in Renaissance and Mughal contexts.

Ribouillault, D. (2023). Stairway to Heaven. Manipulating the Sun, 229–264. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004677654_008