Pisa - Pisa guide, attractions and pictures



Pisa is located in Tuscany, Central Italy. Pisa was once a dominant of the western Mediterranean Sea with powerful navy and strong trading links with North Africa and Spain. The city was a trading center and home of wealthy merchants which reflected in its buildings. Today Pisa is best known with its Leaning Tower (Campanile), the Duomo and the Baptistry.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) was begun in 1173 as the bell tower of the Cathedral (Duomo). Because of the sandy sediment and the shallow foundations (only 3 meters deep-10ft) it began to tilt before the third storey was finished in 1274. The leaning tower was finished in 1350 and started to attract many visitors and scientists. Galileo Galilei also conducted some experiments climbing the tower. The Leaning Bell Tower of Pisa was originally designed to complement the Duomo. It has a central marble staircase, marble columns on every one of the 6 floors and is 55 meters tall.

Today the tower is safe for climbing and is open to the public after engineering work was done to decrease the leaning. In 1995 the leaning was 5.4 meters (17.6 ft) form the vertical axis.

The Duomo was constructed in 1064 and was designed by Buscheto. It is a fine example of the Romanesque style with beautiful colonnade façade and arches. Some of the important details of the exterior include the bronze doors reliefs by Bonanno Pisano. The circular Baptistry was begun in 1152 and was designed by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. It has beautiful carved marble reliefs and marble pillars, and is more ornate in style from the Duomo.

Other points of interest in Pisa are Piazza dei Cavalieri with the Palazzo dei Cavalieri – home of Pisa’s University, Church Santa Maria della Spina, Camposanto - the cemetery which is the forth element in the Campo dei Miracoli. (The other 3 are the Leaning Bell Tower of Pisa, the Duomo and the Baptistry).
Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa Duomo Italy
Pisa Duomo
Campo dei Miracoli Pisa
Campo dei Miracoli
Duomo Pisa
Duomo, Pisa

Leaning Tower and Duomo Pisa
Leaning Tower and Duomo, Pisa

Baptistry Pisa
Baptistry, Pisa




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