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tondo

Tondo is a term that can refer to two related but distinct topics in art and geography. In visual art, a tondo is a circular painting or relief. The word comes from the Italian rondo or round, and the format was widely used in Renaissance and Baroque practice for altarpieces, devotional works, and portraits. Tondi require a centralized composition that reads clearly within a circular boundary, often focusing on a single figure or a compact group. Notable examples include Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo (c. 1503–1504), a celebrated circular panel housed in the Uffizi Gallery, which demonstrates the challenges and visual harmony of the round format.

Tondo also denotes a district in Manila, Philippines. It is one of the city’s 16 administrative districts

and
lies
along
the
northern
edge
of
Manila
proper,
facing
Manila
Bay
and
bordered
by
other
districts
and
waterways.
The
area
has
a
long
history
as
a
dense,
urban
neighborhood
and
has
served
as
a
center
of
commerce
and
residential
life
for
many
generations.
In
contemporary
times,
Tondo
is
known
for
its
high
population
density
and
a
mix
of
residential,
commercial,
and
informal
settlement
areas.
The
district
reflects
a
broad
social
fabric,
with
longstanding
cultural
and
religious
sites,
bustling
markets,
and
ongoing
efforts
at
urban
development
and
public
services
to
address
common
city-wide
challenges.