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Pisa » Exploring the City

Campo dei Miracoli

Many people have heard about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but a few ones know that it is a part of a whole complex of enchanting medieval buildings and even fewer people know that the rest of the historic city centre was destroyed during the World War II and then built again. You should leave minimum an hour for the tower and another hour to see the other medieval monuments in Pisa.

The Leaning Tower was initially a modest addition to the Campo dei Miracoli or the Square of Miracles, which includes the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the monumental cemetery Campo Santo. Commenced in 1173 as a belfry to the Cathedral, the tower leaned almost instantly because of the weak sandy soil in its grounds.

The Leaning Tower

The Cathedral or Duomo was built a century before that. With its beautiful architecture and decoration of pillars, columns and colorful marble and, it soon became an bas example resembled by many other churches in Pisan Romanesque style all over Central Italy. It is mostly known with its southern door made of bronze, the mosaic in the apse depicting Christ in Majesty created in 1302 and the amazing pulpit in the upper end of the northern aisle, made by Giovanni Pisano in 1302-1311. In the circular Baptistery, which was commenced in 1152, you can see a not less beautiful pulpit, a work of Giovanni's father - Nicola Pisano. The last element of the square is the monumental medieval cemetery Campo Santo.

The other interesting sights in the city include Piazza dei Cavalieri or the Knights’ Square, surrounded by original medieval structures, the exquisite little church of Santa Maria della Spina situated close to the river and the Museo Nationale di San Matteo showing a rich collection of mostly Tuscan paintings and sculpture.