Dante's Plaque: Lamberti's Houses

. . . E LE PALLE DELL'ORO FIORIAN FIORENZA IN TUTTI SUOI GRAN FATTI.

DANTE, PAR., XVI, 110-111.

…AND HOW THE BALLS OF GOLD FLORENCE ENFLOWERED IN ALL THEIR MIGHTY DEEDS!

We are in the fifth sphere of heaven, where Dante and his great-grandfather Cacciaguida meet various members of the noble Florentine families. The “balls of gold" are a clear reference to the coat of arms of the Lamberti family, represented by a blue shield with six golden balls, whose members brought prestige to the city, taking an active part in all its "mighty deeds". Mosca Lamberti was one of the killers of Buondelmonte Buondelmonti, thus initiating long disputes that ultimately led to the exile of the Lamberti family.