From humanist to patriarch, Italian historian and editor Francesco Dal Co describes Álvaro Siza from the perspective of Leon Battista Alberti. "Like a Renaissance man, Siza seems to enjoy God's blessing in the multiple practices of his creative gifts, because simplicity is the language of truth, happiness and beauty."

Born in Italy in 1945, historian Francesco Dal Co is one of the most important figures in contemporary architecture. With a degree in Architecture from the Instituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia, where he is professor emeritus, he has also taught at Yale, in the USA, and at the Accademia di Architettura - Universtità della Svizzera Italiana. Between 1988 and 1991, he was the director of the Architecture Section of the Venice Biennale, and since 1976, he has been director of architecture at the Electa publishing house and, since 1996, editor of the Casabella magazine.