by Giovanni Galavotti, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 7 – The Guided Tour
The Neptune fountain is situated in a little square just off Piazza Maggiore.
Marianna is early, as it’s still only ten to three.
While she’s waiting, she looks around her. Facing her is the historic local government building, behind her is the palace of King Enzo, and to the left, the great Basilica of San Petronio, which is the fifth largest church in the world.
All were built in medieval times, and all very beautiful.
When Leonardo arrives at five to three, Marianna is stunned by the change in his appearance – he’s wearing clean clothes, and his hair has been washed!
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks her.
“It’s nothing ….you just look a bit different from yesterday.”
“Better or worse?”
“Much better” says Marianna, smiling.
Leonardo smiles too. And when the bells of San Petronio start to ring he exclaims “And now for our guided tour!”
As they walk, Leonardo tells Marianna the history of the city’s buildings and monuments.
They visit the historic university building, with its beautiful, contoured wooden seating.
They pass under the Due Torre, the two towers which have become the symbol of the city.
And they walk slowly through the alleys of the Mercato del Quadrilatero, which are full of the colours and aromas of the fruit, vegetables, fish and other produce piled on the stalls outside the little shops.
Here they stop for an drink in an old tavern.
This time Marianna takes her purse out of her bag to pay.
Watching her, Leonardo asks:
“What was it in your purse that was so important to you?”
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