Pisa artistic itineraries
- A route from Piazza dei Miracoli Piazza San Francesco
- Itinerary lungarni BI
A route from Piazza dei Miracoli Piazza San Francesco
Our journey begins in one of the most famous squares in the world: Piazza dei Miracoli As was renamed by Gabriele D'Annunzio. Its magnificent monuments are the obvious sign of wealth and power attained in the Middle Ages from the Maritime Republic of Pisa. The whiteness of the marble of Carrara, which are coated, stands out on the green grass and blue against the sky.
Duomo
Dedicated to St Mary of the Assumption, the cathedral was built starting in 1064 under the guidance of Buscheto first and then Rainaldo. The facade has the structure in white and black bands, typical of Pisan Romanesque, and the top four in orders of loggias. The three bronze portals are valuable sixteenth century opera, in place of the originals were destroyed during a fire, but one that still can be admired on the side facing the tower. Islamic influence the shape of the dome and the bronze Grifo that dominates the apse (replaced by a copy while the original is in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo). A curiosity: on the side watching the monumental cemetery, on the sixth pillar of the facade, you can see a series of holes cut into the wall, are the "fingers of the devil", legend has it that count each time you get a different number. The interior, majestic and bright, retains some masterpieces such as the fourteenth century pulpit by Giovanni Pisano and Henry VII's tomb.
Battistero
Begun in 1152 by Diotisalvi, the baptistry was enlarged several times until the nineteenth, when during some restoration of some faces of the Saints took on the appearance of the great protagonists of the Italian Risorgimento, so you can recognize the faces of Mazzini and Garibaldi.
Be observed within the beautiful baptismal font where he was baptized Galilei.
Leaning Tower
This round tower is the bell tower of the cathedral, built from 1173 by Bonanno Pisano, and then by Giovanni di Simone and Tommaso Pisano. The work was interrupted because of land subsidence that led to the known slope.
Cemetery monuments
On the northern side of square, leaning against the walls, was built at the cemetery since 1278. Unfortunately, the bombing of World War II damaged the frescoes that decorated the walls, however entrandovi you can still admire some of those beautiful Buffalmacco; of great interest is the number of sarcophagi there preserved, both pagans and Christians.
Museum of Sinopie
The birth of this museum is closely linked to the events of World War II, was in fact a result of the bombing at the cemetery were damaged frescoes detached bringing to light the sinopie, namely the preparatory drawings of the wall paintings, which are in the rooms of the ancient Spedali their current location.
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
On the corner of the square dell'Arcivescovado is located within a thirteenth century this palace museum. In the halls on two floors are exposed many works from the complex of Piazza dei Miracoli.
Going via Santa Maria, on which we face some towers built during the Middle Ages by the most powerful families are lining Piazza Cavallotti, attraversiamola and walk towards Via Dei Mille, where is the church of San Sisto. Flanked it comes in one of the most beautiful squares of city: Piazza dei Cavalieri.
Piazza dei Cavalieri
Ancient Roman city of the hole, then the center of the Republic of Pisa, this square is derived the name from the presence of buildings, erected on the authority of the Grand Duke Cosimo I, intended for home and services of the sacred and the military of the Knights of St. Stephen, which he founded to defend the coasts of the Mediterranean. The draft of the square is a must that Vasari for Cosimo I always built the Galleria degli Uffizi. Among the buildings that he built and that there is still can admire the imposing facade stands out in the palace of the Knights or the Caravan, now home of the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore. The facade is decorated by coats of arms of the Medici and of the Knights, the busts of the Medici and graffiti depicting the arts, the signs of the zodiac and virtues.
On the right of the Palace is the church dedicated to the Knights of Santo Stefano, whose construction began in 1506. The interior is spacious and easily displayed on the walls of flags taken from enemies defeated the Knights. In addition there are painted pictures of the life of Santo Stefano and stories of the Order.
On the opposite side stands the Palazzo dell'Orologio where, in medieval times, they were the house-building the tower of Justice and the tower of Fame, notorious because it was locked up here and fact die of hunger, with his three children, Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, figure made famous by the pen of Dante.
Take via Ulisse Dini, resulting in Piazza San Felice. From here it comes out in the village Strait, via the central artery and shopping districts. Cross this road and arrived in the vicinity of Salsa, historic bakery in town. We at this point via San Francesco and reached the homonymous church.
Chiesa di San Francesco
This monumental building, adjacent to the Franciscan convent was built in the thirteenth century brick except the front which is seicentesca. Inside the church is majestic and solemn, many tombstones tombstones, including that of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca. Graceful cloister surrounded by porticos fifteenth.
Going back down via Berlinghieri meet via San Lorenzo lining Piazza Martiri della Libert?. Attraversatala this is the church of Santa Caterina.
Chiesa di Santa Caterina
Outstanding example of the admixture of Pisan Romanesque and Gothic, this building was built by the Dominicans with the convent in the thirteenth century.Itinerary lungarni BI
Lungarno Simonelli
At the beginning of the Lungarno, near the bridge of the Citadel is the fifteenth Guelfa tower built during the first Florentine domination. Since its top is open to the eye sight of Lungarni and the city.
Beside the tower stood the Pisan naval arsenals, used later for the various functions yards fleet Medici, prison, barracks, stables to reach that today as the site of exhibitions, shows and conventions.Lungarno Pacinotti
At the intersection with Via Santa Maria is the Royal Palace, before you go to visit we go to visit the church of San Nicola, at the beginning of the road.
Chiesa di San Nicola
If the legend, was built in 1000, are you sure that this church has undergone significant changes over the centuries from the thirteenth century when it was annexed to the convent of the Augustinians. Before the visit look corridor-arched bridge that connects the Royal Palace and that for centuries was the first Grand Dukes of Tuscany and then to the kings of Italy to reach their rooms. Inside eighteenth, Baroque, preserves between different works, the Madonna with Child, painted by Francesco Traini, the wood of Nino Pisano, a beautiful crucifix attributed to Giovanni Pisano.
Palazzo Reale
Begun in 1583 by the will of the Grand Duke Francesco I de 'Medici, who gave the project to Bernardo Buontalenti, the palace was to replace the old Medici palace. From the residence of the Medici court, and Lorena and Savoy finally, the palace is currently home of the National Museum. In its rooms, decorated with antique furniture, we can see next to many paintings by Italian artists between the fifteenth and the nineteenth century, including bronzes, miniatures, ceramics, coins and medals. Interesting is to visit the room in which they are exposed to the armor of the "Game of the Bridge", a historical representation of the body-to-hand combat of the medieval tradition that still takes place during the celebrations of June pisan.
Continuing the walk on the Lungarno Pacinotti between buildings stand out for their beauty to the palace Day, seventeenth-century elegant facade, the current seat of the Rectorate, and the palace Agostini, unique and rare in Pisa in Italy for the Gothic style of wall in brick decorated with anthropomorphic elements and fitomorfi and heraldic symbols. The circles on the ground floor houses the end of the eighteenth century the historic coffee dell'Ussero. Like any great city of culture worthy of respect, even Pisa had nell'Ottocento her literary salon, a meeting place for the great personalities who have studied at the renowned university, such as Carducci, Fucini, Guerrazzi and again for the members of the first Italian Congress of Scientists . The back of the Palace houses the Cinema Lumi?re, the oldest operating in the Italian cinema.
Just a few meters and the Lungarno Pacinotti ends in Piazza Garibaldi which is the background of the beautiful facade of the Palace Casino dei Nobili, built in the early seventeenth century.Lungarno Mediceo
After a short meets Piazza Cairoli in the center stands the column surmounted by statue of plenty of Pierino da Vinci, the nephew of the famous Leonardo. On the north side facing the church of St. Peter in Vinculis.
Church of St. Peter in Vinculis
Built between the XI and XII, The church has two floors. Upstairs you can witness the rich mosaic floor of the thirteenth century, the beautiful wall paintings and an early Christian sarcophagus of the third century AD, with bas-reliefs.
Piazza Mazzini just passed, you can admire the building where the Medici family resided before moving to the Royal Palace. So we set in the small square Lungarno di San Matteo in Soarta overlooked by the church of St. Matthew and the National Museum.
Museo nazionale di San Matteo
The museum is located in a former Benedictine convent of the Sisters of St. Matthew, built between the XII and XIII. In its rooms are works of great value made during the centuries the city of Pisa for many artists. The museum system, which divides the works chronologically, facilitates this fascinating journey during which you can admire the famous opre of Simone Martini, Gentile da Fabriano, Donatello, Masaccio, Beato Angelico, Guido Reni. Also paintings by German artists, Catalans and precious objects of applied art: Exsultet, bronzes, reliefs, embroidery, glass and crystals, ivories and miniatures.
Chiesa di San Matteo in Soarta
Dating back to the eleventh century, the building belonged to the Benedictine nuns. Over the centuries it has undergone some changes as shown seen from the seventeenth-century facade. The medieval church is still clearly distinguishable on the side of the Arno. Inside is the wonderful fresco on the vault with the Glory of St. Matthew.
At this point reached Piazza Santa Marta cross the bridge of the Fortress reaching the Lungarno Galilei.Lungarno Galilei
At the Lungarno Fibonacci you can see the walls that Scotto surrounding the garden, city park. These were once part of Fort St Gall, erected in the fifteenth century to designs by Filippo Brunelleschi. Continuing the journey you meet Lanfranchi palace that, as its name indicates, belonged to the Lanfranchi, one of the oldest and most illustrious families Pisan, Dante recalls that in the Divine Comedy. The building is already home to temporary exhibitions, a brief should accommodate a Standing the Cabinet of drawings and prints of the University of Pisa.
At some point the Lungarno opens onto a small square which houses one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the city.
Church of Holy Sepulcher
Built in the XII century on a design by Diotisalvi (the same as the Baptistery of Pisa) for the Order of the Templars, the building was octagonal, and up to mid-nineteenth century was surrounded by a sixteenth-century portico. Its name originates from the crusade led by the Bishop of Pisa Daiberto, following which the Pisans wanted to build a church that was, church, hospital, hotel and convent, on the model of the mosque in Homar that Christians of Jerusalem were called Templum Domini . On the floor many tombstones, including that of Maria Mancini Colonna, nephew of Cardinal Mazzarino is a favorite of Louis XIV, died in Pisa in 1715.
The Lungarno Galilei ends with the opening of Piazza XX Settembre, where you can see the Logge dei Banchi, majestic porch built at the beginning of the seventeenth century on a design by Bernardo Buontalenti to gather in one place on the market of various kinds.Lungarno Gambacorti
Immediately at the beginning of the Lungarno, in angular position on the square is Palazzo Gambacorti, whose facade is a beautiful example of Gothic. Continuing this walk we can see a church that is a real jewel of Italian Gothic.
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina
Built in the fourteenth century on the banks dell'Arno, was disassembled and rebuilt nell'Ottocento for security problems. This small chest is adorned with marble and inlaid rosettes, from slender kiosks which house statues made by the major artists of the time and which culminate in peaks, peaks, pinnacles. Inside the small rectangular nave, with three separate strings from the presbytery, preserves part of its artistic heritage. Lungarno Sonnino
Walking through this lungarno you can observe the characteristic facade frames with baked dell'edificazione already it was seat of the Benedictine monastery. Located near the Piazza di San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno the church.
Chiesa di San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno
Erected in the ninth century, was rebuilt in the eleventh, note the bell'uso of stones with different effects of polychromy to balconies on the facade. Inside, there are visible remains of rich paintings, attributed to Buffalmacco.