Campo dei Miracoli or “Square of Miracles,” is an apt name for听Pisa’s main square. Also known as the听Piazza del Duomo, the area features a large, green open space and hosts a group of marvelous monuments听that are famous all over the world. The four masterpieces located in the piazza are the baptistery, the cathedral, the cemetery, and听the world famous听leaning tower. All of these monuments have had听considerable influence on the art and architecture听that followed and, because of this, the piazza has been on
听Piazza del Duomo
The Cathedral Square of Pisa is a large walled area located in the heart of the city and is known as one of the most important medieval art centers in the world. Partly grassed and partly paved, the area is ideal for tourists on foot,听who come from all over the world to see听the four major edifices that dominate the square.
听The Duomo
Piazza del Duomo is so named听because of the Duomo, or Cathedral, of Pisa听that is located there. The cathedral, one of the most important monuments in the city,听has been dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. Its construction was begun by Buscheto in 1064 and completed by Rainaldo in the 12th听century.
Inside the five naves are collected works of immeasurable value: paintings by Beccafumi, by Ghirlandaio, by Andrea del Sarto and by Sodoma. The mosaic in the apse is by Cimabue, the pulpit, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art, is by Giovanni Pisano, and the central altar is by Giambologna. Finally, in front of the apse hangs which was used by the famous scientist to determine important laws of physics. In front of the Duomo rises the impressive circular Baptistery, with a grandiose dome, 18 meters in diameter. Diotisalvi began the construction in 1152 but it was completed only in the 14th听century.
听Visitors to the imposing cathedral will notice that its听architecture is quite unique:听it is a mix of Romanesque and Pisan style. The fa莽ade of the cathedral is made听of grey marble and the white stones are set with colored marble discs. The main doors of the cathedral are quite massive and are made of heavy bronze.
In past centuries visitors entered through Saint Ranieri’s door, which was located in front of the Tower of Pisa. This door was听built in 1180 and听was moved from听its place听after the new doors were made.
The Baptistery
While many visitors make the pilgrimage to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery of Saint John should not be missed. The construction of the building was started in 1152 to replace an older baptistery;听however,听it was not completed until听1363.
The Architecture of the Baptistery
Designed by the architect Diotisalvi the building, at听54 meters high and 107 meters wide,听is one the largest of its kind听in the country. The听Baptistery is a good example of the transition听from the Romanesque听to the Gothic听styles of architecture, such as in the building’s registers. The ones on the lower side have rounded arches in the Romanesque tradition,听while听the upper ones have pointed Gothic-style arches.
The portal听that faces the cathedral has two large columns and the jambs听were made in Byzantine form. The lintel has been divided in two different tiers and visitors can enjoy its听beautiful frescoes.
The Interior
The sheer size of the interior of the Baptistery听makes it overwhelming, even though the styling has been kept fairly simple. Noted for its acoustics, the interior lacks lavish decoration. The Guido Bigarelli-designed font at the central location of the building dates back to 1246. If visiting, be sure to see the beautiful bronze statue of Saint John the Baptist,听created by听the artist听Italo Griselli.
The main pulpit was designed听by Nicola Pisano in 1255. Few visitors to the Baptistery will ever be able to forget the beautiful scenes, like that of a naked Hercules, depicted on the pulpit.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower, or the campanile, of the city’s Cathedral. The tower is located behind the Duomo and is known to be the third most ancient structure in the Piazza. The tower was intended to be vertical, but it began leaning听 after construction work began in 1173 due to听problems with the听foundation. The tower may be a structural disappointment, but its original form has made it one of the most recognizable of Italy’s landmarks.
Steeped in history, the Tower has听had connections with many famous听people and events. For听instance, it is rumored that Galileo dropped two cannon balls off the top of the tower during an experiment and that it was also a Nazi lookout post during the Second World War.
During its construction, efforts were made to halt the incipient inclination through the use of special construction devices. Later, columns and other damaged parts were substituted in more than one occasion; today, interventions are being carried out within the sub-soil in order to significantly reduce the inclination and to make sure that the Tower will have a long life. In all this story it is possible to find a meaningful constant, the “genetic code” of the Tower: its continuing interaction with the soil on which it was built.
After much work to the Tower over the years, it was finally declared stable, or no longer shifting, in 2008 and is expected to remain so for at least 200 years.
The Cemetery
The cemetery, known as the Camposanto Monumentale, is the fourth edifice in the Piazza and is believed to have been constructed on sacred soil brought to Pisa from the Golgotha in the 12th Century by the Archbishop of the city.听According to various legends, bodies听buried in the cemetery would be completely decomposed within a day. The cemetery is located on the听site of the ruins of the old Church of Santa Reparta.
The last structure to be built in听the piazza, the construction of the cloister began in 1278 and was created in听Gothic style. The building was based on the designs of the architect Giovanni di Simone who died in 1284, centuries听before听the construction was completed in 1464. It is believed that the building was not originally听planned as a cemetery, but rather as a听church by the name of Santissima Trinit脿. During the construction stages the decision was changed and it was then constructed as a cemetery.
Only 84 of the Roman sarcophagi in the Camp Santo are left today, along with a large collection of urns and sculptures dating back to Etruscan and Roman times. These artifacts have now been shifted to the Museum of the Vestry.
The sarcophagi were located all around the cathedral and were even attached to the walls of the building. When the cemetery was built the sarcophagi were collected and kept in the听meadow in the middle听of the structure.
Carlo Lasinio was the curator of the Campo Santo and was responsible for collecting听many relics, spread all around the city, in order to create听a museum within the cemetery.听Today, visitors can see these ancient听sarcophagi within the galleries close to the walls of the cemetery.
One of the most impressive squares in the world, Pisa’s听Piazza del Duomo is not to be missed.
A short distance from Florence, Pisa and its miracles should be on the schedule for any visitor to the Tuscany area.
