Pisa, Italy

We had over an hour ride from the port (Livorno) to Pisa. This is the area called Tuscany. Pisa has maintained its Medieval character. 

There are four buildings on this Square of Miracles” - the bell tower, cathedral, Baptista, and cemetery- but we didn’t entry the Baptista.

Pisa is built on sandy soil created by the silt built up from the canals that connected the mountains to the sea. 

Back side view of Campanile (bell tower) known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower is made of 14,500 marble/limestones, 8 stories tall with 6 columns, 7 bronze bells, and is 850 years old. The construction stopped after the third row because of the tilting and resumed a century later. The 7th row has windows and the bells were suppose to be on this level. The bells are not rung anymore to preserve them but a recording is played throughput the day. 

 

Front view

Need a little help here? 

I’ll hold you up. 🤣

Pisa Cathedral is the oldest of the three building inhere in the Piazza dei Miracoli and is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary (Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale di Santa Maria Assunta or Duoma di Pisa). It began in 1063. It, too, leans a little.

The wooden doors burned in the 1595 fire and were replaced with bronze doors designed by Florentine artists. The arches are made of marble.

Above the altar is a mosaic of Jesus blessing us snd holding a book titled “I am the Light of the World.” There are 5 naves. 

Just keep looking up and up and up.

Galileo was born in Pisa and attended church services here. He would stare at the light hanging here and observed the oscillation. His formulation of the swinging pendulum came from his time spent in church.

In 1302-1310 the pulpit was constructed and displays the doctrines of the church: faith, hope, and mercy. Saint Michael is holding a sword in defense. 

Don’t forget to look at the floor.

Chapel areas were just as beautiful as the main area.

The patron saint of Pisa is St. Rainerius and his tomb has a glass window on the side so his remains are visible to all. He has a silver mask covering his face. 

Campo Santo (holy field) or Camosanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) or Camposant Vecchio (Old Cemetery) Cemetery is a separate building next to the cathedral. It is an oblong cloister. 

They have automatic grass maintenance 😁.

Fresco paintings on walls are  being repaired (painted) by historians as accurately as possible.

This is believed to be the original incense burner that Galileo watched swing back and forth during church services and developed his theory on oscillation from the pendulum-like swaying of the incense burner. This is now kept in the cloistered cemetery here and a replacement hangs in the cathedral.

The Battistero di San Giovanni or Pisa Baptistry was built after the cathedral (started about 1152) and before the bell tower. It is dedicated to John the Baptist (his statue is on the top of the dome) and it tilts as well. We did not have time to go inside.