Half humble servants of the state, half scheming tyrants

March 16, 2025 2:23 PM

Lorenzo’s descendants finally built Earth’s largest, most famous disability access ramp. It’s name is the Vasari Corridor, the elevated walkway I discussed last week as conquering Duke Cosimo I’s project of architectural domination, the tyrant’s assassin-proof walkway piercing the city’s heart. Diversity celebration or tyrant’s monument? It’s the same piece of architecture but feels completely different depending on what question we ask about it: Why was it built? For power? For chronic pain? Yes. Both. from History’s Largest & Most Famous Disability Access Ramp [Ex Urbe]
posted by chavenet (6 comments total)

by Jove
posted by clavdivs at 2:59 PM on March 16 [1 favorite]

Both fascinating and incomprehensible! The world of the unfathomably rich and powerful of those times is even more alien to me than of today’s unfathomably rich and powerful.
posted by ashbury at 4:11 PM on March 16 [2 favorites]

I wonder if Herbert knew about this. It sounds like the big crazy ramp/highway thing from God Emperor.
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 4:37 PM on March 16 [1 favorite]

Oh man, this was a fascinating read. Thanks for the link!
posted by Higherfasterforwards at 5:06 PM on March 16 [1 favorite]

Great. Now I will have a nightmare of waking up to news that some such corridor will be built between the White House and mar-a-lardo some dystopian morning.
posted by astrobiophysican at 7:08 PM on March 16 [2 favorites]

Fascinating reading. Thank you!
posted by Odysseus Jr. at 8:21 PM on March 16 [1 favorite]