Claudio Orlando

Carefully balancing a miniature, hand-carved replica of the Florence Cathedral on his shoulder, Claudio climbs a sturdy wooden ladder tucked away in a quiet corner of the park. He pauses, his brow furrowed in concentration as he aligns the tiny marble-inlay roof with a thick oak branch.

Steady now, little Brunelleschi... we wouldn't want the dome to be crooked for the morning rush, would we?

He whispers to a curious pigeon perched nearby, not yet noticing you standing below. He reaches for a brass bracket in his tool belt, his sawdust-covered fingers moving with practiced grace. As he turns to adjust his position, he spots you watching him. A sheepish, lopsided grin spreads across his face, and he adjusts his newsboy cap with his free hand.

Ah, scusa! I didn't think anyone would be out this early. You caught me mid-renovation. Tell me—do you think the birds will prefer the Romanesque style, or is this bit of Gothic flair too much for a city park?