Pisa Things to Do Tips by croisbeauty Top 5 Page for this destination

Campo dei Miracoli - Portale di San Ranieri The Duomo/Cathedral Review

%Would be almost funny if such an magnificent church has ordinary door. This massive main bronze door were made in the workshops of Giambologna, replacing the original doors destroyed in fire. The central door was in bronze and made by Bonanno Pisano while the other two were in wood. The bronze reliefs on the doors displaying the scenes from the Bible."

Address: Campo dei Miracoli

Campo dei Miracoli - inside of the Duomo The Duomo/Cathedral Review

The cathedral has a five-naved plan with a three-naved transept. The interior is faced with black and white marble, frescoed dome and has a gilded ceiling carrying the coat of arms of the Medici. The magnificent carved pulpit was made by Nicolo's Pisano son Giovanni and it represents one of the masterworks of medieval sculpture.
The cathedral contains the bones of Saint Ranieri, the patron saint of Pisa and the tomb of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII, carved by Tino da Camaino. The tomb was disassembled and changed position many times during the years for political reasons.

Address: Campo dei Miracoli

Campo dei Miracoli - The Leaning Tower The Tower Review

The Tower is considered as the most distinctive monument in the Piazza dei Miracoli. It was begun in 1173 by Bonanno who ingeniously adopted the motif of the superimposted galleries used on Cathedral facade. After reaching only its third storey, the building of the Tower had to be abandoned due to a subsidence of the soil which caused its characteristic lean. The work was resumed a century later by Giovanni di Simone, who tried to rectify the Tower's inclination and raised it as far as its sixth srorey.
Cylindrical in structure, the Tower is surounded by columned arcades. A spiral staircase of 294 steps leads up to the top, where the bell-tower is situated. The bell-tower was built by Tommaso, son of Andrea Pisano, in the mid-14th century.

Campo dei Miracoli - Duomo The Duomo/Cathedral Review

The construction of magnificent Pisan Duomo was begun in 1063 by great local architect Buscheto, and consecrated in 1118 by Pope Gelasius II. After the death of its initiator, however, the construction suffered a set-back. The facade was built by architect Reinaldo, successor to Buscheto, and Master Guglielmo, who also sculpted the first pulpit in the Duomo.
It is possible to see the presence of many different styles in the architecture of the building like; Arab and Byzantine elements, classical and Lombard forms and cultural traditions of Tuscany, giving life to the one of the most original creations of Italian Romanesque style.

Campo dei Miracoli - Camposanto Monumentale The Cemetery Review

Camposanto (the cemetery) is monumental architectural complex which dates back to the 13th century. The construction was begun by Giovanni di Simone and completed during the several following centuries. Nowadays it became a valuable artistic patrimony wtih plenty of famous paintings and sculptures. The cemetery was heavilly devastated by fire during the WW II.
Camposanto is Italian name for the holy cemetary and its ground base consists of the earth which pilgrims brought to Pisa from the Jerusalem.

Address: Campo dei Miracoli

Museum of the Sinopias Museums Review

The most valuable frescoes from Camposanto are conservated and preserved in the Museum of Sinopias. A particular technique, called "a strappo" (by pulls) have been used to restore them, the sketches and designs the srtists used to make before colouring, which was carried on by their pupils, have come to light. These designs, which were realized by using a brush with a reddish earth called "sinopia", reveal the hand of the master and a surprising vividness. It is very interesting to compare the finished fresco with its sinopia.

Address: Piazza dei Miracoli

Terme Romane Not just Campo dei Miracoli Review

The town of Pisa was founded by Ibero - Ligurians and so named because it is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Arno and the Serchio. The name thus signifies meadowland or delta and is probably of Greek origin. Pisa is Europe's most ancient maritime city, which goes back through the millennia.
Under Roman rule the city prospered, embelished with temples and palaces. During that period, emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius resided in the town. Unfortunatelly, not much remains from Roman times have left in Pisa, this baths are the most significant monument from that time.

Address: Via Cardinale Maffi

Porta Santa Maria Campo dei Miracoli Review

Vescovado

This is splendid courtyard of Vescovado (the Bishopry), which is situated on a small square right opposite to the Leaning Tower. The doorway of the courtyard was open only by chance and I took this picture. When I tried to get inside and take some more picture, the doormen stopped me unkindly telling me is is forbidden. He didn't want to answer on any of my questions either, although I speak Italian very fluently. Too bad.

Campo dei Miracoli - Battistero The Baptistery Review

The Baptistery was built during a long period that extends from 1153, the year that it was begun by the architect Diotisalvi. Numerous artists have worked on its project but still the structure remained essentially Romanesque. The whole Baptistery is richly decorated with the sculptures and a large part of it can be attributed to Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. The original sculptures, however, have been substituted with copies in order to prevent their destruction.