Stone-Ideas.com 
The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral Workshops) has completed the restoration of “Madre Terra” (Mother Earth), a section of the magnificent inlaid marble floor of the Baptistry where fantastic animals of oriental origin are depicted: from the simurgs (mythological Persian bird figures) with the tree of life, to the rearing griffins and wild beasts.
The restoration of the inlays in two varieties of Italian marble was necessary due to the significant wear and material loss of the “stone carpet,“ (3.30 x 3.30 meters). It completely or partially erased the features of the original design.
Now, the artwork’s legibility is recovered.
Madre Terra is one of the marble carpets that make up a large part of the oldest floor of the Baptistry. It dates back to the early 13th century, according to one of the most widely accepted hypotheses. The stone inlay is distinguished from the later pavement made of cocciopesto, a waterproof coating made of fragments with mortar in several layers probably already known by the Phoenicians.
Madre Terra carpet was part of a so-called “Sacred Journey,“ carried out in every procession: It began by crossing the main door of the Baptistry (the Gate of Paradise), then stepping over the Madre Terra, which symbolized the earthly world with animals and plants. Then, it continued through the Zodiac, the celestial sphere, and concluded at the baptistery font, representing the attainment of the world of grace and salvation. The baptistery font was removed in the sixteenth century.
The stone carpet is made of white Apuan marble slabs, joined together with 5mm seams, and inlaid with Prato green serpentine, from the homonymous city at the foothills of the Apennine mountains.
Lastly, Madre Terra suffered significant wear and important gaps in the inlays. They made the design unreadable (as was the case with the adjacent Zodiac pavement). In particular, the deterioration of the serpentine began with the fragmentation and detachment of small flakes, which accelerated quickly over time until its complete disintegration.
Recently, access to these sections of the floor had to be restricted (while still ensuring public visibility).
The restoration has recreated the artwork’s legibility by reconstructing the lost geometries based on the original design. Part of the original is still visible on the carpet.
Restoration followed up-to-date principles based on the criteria of recognizability and reversibility of the intervention.
Works were directed and carried out by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore staff. They were made possible thanks to the contribution of Tauck (the American tour and cruise operator), which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in Florence during the first week of February.
The restoration of the marble floors of the Baptistry is part of a larger project by the Opera, which involves the restoration of the oldest monument in Florence. Since 2014, the external façades and the roof covering have been restored, followed by the internal walls with mosaics. The restoration of the floors and the medieval mosaics of the dome is underway, which began in 2023 and is expected to be completed in four years.
Vincenzo Vaccaro, board member of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, states: “We are grateful to Tauck for their contribution, which has made the restoration of Madre Terra possible. Private interventions like this are important for our institution because they help its purpose, which is the protection, promotion, and enhancement of the monuments of the Florence Cathedral.”
Jennifer Tombaugh, Tauck CEO, states: “We’re committed to protecting and preserving the destinations we visit for future generations. That’s why, along with supporting the restoration, our anniversary celebration in Florence also includes more than 1,400 hours of volunteer work, provided by Tauck employees and the Tauck family, to several restoration, beautification, and educational projects across the city.”
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