Dante's Plaque: San Salvatore al Monte Church

… PER SALIRE AL MONTE, DOVE SIEDE LA CHIESA CHE SOGGIOGA LA BEN GUIDATA SOPRA RUBACONTE, SI ROMPE NEL MONTAR L’ARDITA FOGA, PER LE SCALEE, CHE SI FERO AD ETADE CH’ ERA SICURO IL QUADERNO E LA DOGA

DANTE, PURG., XII, 100-105

AS ON THE RIGHT HAND, TO ASCEND THE MOUNT WHERE SEATED IS THE CHURCH THAT LORDETH IT O'ER THE WELL-GUIDED, ABOVE RUBACONTE, THE BOLD ABRUPTNESS OF THE ASCENT IS BROKEN BY STAIRWAYS THAT WERE MADE THERE IN THE AGE WHEN STILL WERE SAFE THE LEDGER AND THE STAVE

Dante compares the ascent to the second circle of Purgatorio to the steps that led to the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, which dominated - and still dominates - the city, above the Ponte Rubaconte (today's Ponte alle Grazie). Dante ironically recalls that this staircase was built by honest administrators, quite different from those who, in 1299, falsified the ledger (the Court Records) and the stave (unity of measurement for dry grocery) against the interest of the Florentine people. The plaque is located at the base of the staircase leading to Piazzale Michelangelo.