Palace Alla Giornata in Pisa

Poised between myth and reality, the story that I want to tell you in this holiday concerning the origin of the term At the Day (Alla giornata) with which is named one of the historic buildings that are located on the river Arno of Pisa, current seat of the Rector of the University, story that had a happy ending just one day of Christmas of a few centuries ago.

The narration of the facts leads us in the seventeenth century and the protagonist is a knight Pisan that, following fierce naval battle, fell into Turkish hands. Entrusted to the custody of one of the favorites of the bey, he soon earned the admiration for the courage shown during his captivity so that he would be left free if in return had agreed to renoune his religion.
Despite the Knight of Pisa showed no hesitation, the court took on with a new proposal, namely to be free enough to stop to observe the rule on Friday in thin had always strictly followed. Past few weeks, a knight on Friday asked that he had led a lavish meal, happy to hear this news, the courtier turkish remained true to his promise and released into freedom. What he did not know was unaware that that day is celebrated Christmas event for which the precept of Friday was exceptionally lean suspended.
Back in Pisa, the knight built a palace on the Arno River and as a votive he placed above the entrance three links of the chain that had kept him prisoner and he wrote the motto At Day to remember that even in difficulty, we must not lose hope because in just one day the adversity can capsize.