Dante's Plaque: Della Bella's Houses

CIASCUN CHE DELLA BELLA INSEGNA PORTA DEL GRAN BARONE … DA ESSO EBBE MILIZIA E PRIVILEGIO; AVVEGNA CHE CON POPOL SI RAUNI OGGI COLUI CHE LA FASCIA COL FREGIO.

DANTE, PAR., XVI, 127-132.

EACH ONE THAT BEARS THE BEAUTIFUL ESCUTCHEON OF THE GREAT BARON…. KNIGHTHOOD AND PRIVILEGE FROM HIM RECEIVED; THOUGH WITH THE POPULACE UNITES HIMSELF TO-DAY THE MAN WHO BINDS IT WITH A BORDER.

Among the noble Florentine families who were awarded the order of chivalry by Ugo Marchese di Toscana (the "Great Baron"- buried in the Badia Fiorentina - who moved the seat of the marquisate from Lucca to Florence) was that one of the Della Bella, whose coat of arms was adorned with a golden band. Here, in particular, reference is to Giano Della Bella, who sided with the people, signing his famous "Ordinances of Justice" of 1293.