Pisa
Pisa is known worldwide mostly for the square of miracles and its Leaning Tower, and will, therefore, our city tour will start here.
The Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), is called also Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). The poet Gabriele D’Annunzio called it “Meadow of Miracles”, because of the beauty monuments which stand out on the surrounding green garden. The Square lies at a northern area of the city, and, not inside the walls nor in the old town. The Duomo was the first monument to be built, then is was construction of the Baptistery and last the Leaning Tower.
Leaning Tower is the symbol of the city,and definitely,one of the most famous monuments in the world. The construction of the monument began in 1173 by architect Gherardo di Gherardo.
In that time, rich people have visited and climbed to the Tower,and for this reason, the building material of the stairs was marble instead of wood. When was constructed the third ring, the building started leaning, because the bad condition of the ground under the bell tower. This was the reason why the construction was interrupted and continued in 1275.
Last three floors was built with an opposite inclination in order to balance the equilibrium of the tower. Many architects have for centuries tried to solve the problem of the Leaning Tower and was forbidden visit the tower because it is constantly falling. Finally from 2001,the tower has been opened again to the public and it is possible to visit it.Today the tower is controlled through modern technology.
On the tower there are 7 bells. Of course, Galileo Galilei can thank the leaning tower, because the performed the experiments for study the equationsfor a falling body.
The Duomo of Pisa was built between 1046 and 1118, lies at the centre of Square of Miracles, in the middle of the Leaning Tower and the Baptistery. The façade was built by famouse artist Rainaldo. The San Ranieri door (entrance of church) has 24 bronze doors and it is painted with Pisano’s frescos that represent prophets and stories of the New Testament. Inside the cathedral are many oriental(eastern) elements: for this reason, inner spaces seem to be those ones of a mosque.
The Dome is decorated with 15th century fresco paintings. Most beautiful work of art in the church are: Andrea del Sarto’s “Madonna sotto gli organi”, a Francesco de Simone’s mosaic,Cimabue’s “San Giovanni Evangelista” (1301-1302) and Vicino da Pistoia’s “Vergine Maria” (1321).
The Baptistery of Pisa is the largest one in Italy. Is made in 1152 by the architect Diotisalvi and many artists, like Giovanni and Nicola Pisano. The statue of Saint John the Baptist located is on the top of the dome.
If you have a little more time, we also recommend a tour in Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum of Pisa presents collections of Mediterranean and exotic plants, medicinal species…
This museum , founded in 1591 is among the oldest in the world. Natural history museum was established in the Botanical Garden at the end of the sixteenth century. It collected the “works of nature” and many books.
