Pisa Cathedral: Photo and Excursion Description

The Pisa Cathedral is very interesting as a visual demonstration of the grandeur of the Italian republics. Construction began in 1063, and already in the 11th century, the Italians could afford to build such majestic structures. Many major European powers at that time this was not available.

The Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Tower, Baptistery and Monumental Cemetery are truly formed by the area that is called the "field of miracles". The translation is not quite true, "Piazza Dei Miracoli" is rather translated as "Square of Wonders".

Falling Pisa Tower is just the bell tower of the cathedral. Although by itself, she is more famous due to the inclination, the central building of this architectural complex is the cathedral.

Already after arriving at this place, you will understand that the falling tower looks like fading enough compared to the cathedral and baptister. These buildings are much majestic, and the Baptistery is even higher than the Pisa Tower. In the photo on the right you see the cathedral, the tower you can observe the right.

With a financial point of view, visit the Pisa Cathedral and all other attractions (except for the tower) is more profitable. The ticket for all interesting places is 8 euros, while climbing the Pisa Tower costs 18 euros.

Moreover, it is also much more interesting. Pisa Cathedral produces an indelible impression, especially from the inside. The monumental cemetery is full of sarcophagus, including those related to the Epoch of the Roman Empire. Cemetery can be viewed on a very interesting fresco "Triumph of Death". We will tell about everything in order.

First of all it is worth visiting the building of the Pisa Cathedral. It began to be built in the 11th century, when the Italian cities of the republic reached the top point of their power.

Pisa, Venice, Genoa and Florence controlled trade throughout the Mediterranean, and were extremely rich. Their armies were the most advanced in Europe, recall at least famous Genoese crossbars. And they would remain so strong if they did not start actively fighting with each other.

In Venice, the construction of a grand cathedral in honor of St. Mark began to build, and the Pisans decided not to lag behind and in 1063 they began a large construction. The building was erected by 1092. And just 55 years after the start of construction, the temple was consecrated by the Pope themselves. For that time, it was a very fast construction pace, given the large size of the building. The Cathedral is devoted to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Outside Pisa Cathedral produces a strong impression. It has a size of 96 meters long, which can be commemmed with the size of a football field. The height of the main building is 28 meters, which is approximately equal to the height of the 9-storey building.

First of all, it is worth paying attention to three mosaics, which are decorated with the main entrance. Below you will find a small photo gallery of these mosaics.

Click on photo to enlarge.

You get the most indelible impressions inside. Like most Cathedrals of Romanesque and Gothic Styles, the Pisa Temple is a single huge room inside.

In the photo on the right you can see the figures of people and understand how high the ceiling here. Its height exceeds 20 meters. Catholic cathedrals were primarily served in order to impress, and forever "knock out" visitor any doubts about the existence of God.

This is the current temple, and there are posts. At that moment, when services are not held, the entrance for tourists is free, regardless of religion.

Most of the frescoes and paintings have survived from 11-13 centuries, this is primarily interesting in the interior of the Pisa Cathedral. Already later, the style of visual art and sculptures in Catholic temples began to change, and the decoration of the Pisa Cathedral is still very much reminded by Byzantium. Pisans had extensive trade relations with the Byzantine Empire, many masters were trained in Constantinople.

On the walls of the temple, many works of fine art, the most interesting of them we present to you in a small photo gallery.

Click on photo to enlarge.

The painting of the ceiling is perfectly preserved, below you will find another small collection photo.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Make a general impression of the inner decoration of the cathedral itself will help another collection of images below.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Separately, it is worth telling about one subject inside. it Department of the famous Italian sculptor Giovanni Pisano, Made from marble in the 13th century. By perimeter, the artist portrayed 9 scenes from the new covenant, which are divided into each other figures of the apostles.

The department you can see on the photo on the left. For those readers who are bad to imagine what kind of structure and what was meant, we will explain.

In this case, the department is customary to call some exaltation on which he spoke or a preacher. Such structures are in most Catholic Cathedrals. Actually, from this and the name went "cathedral". The departments have always paid special attention, as the beauty and rich appearance of the facility attached more weight to the protruding clergyman.

This tribune was intended to Archbishop Pisa, which is the head of the archcoal. The Pisa Archroad Pisa manages all the parishes of the region of Tuscana in Italy.

The most interesting thing from the department is to look at skillfully made from marble biblical scenes. This occupation can also hold an hour.

Another remarkable feature of the department Giovanni Pisano is that she was lost during the restoration of the Pisan Cathedral after a fire. And re-found it quite recently, it was in 1926. Tourists are difficult to understand how such a large design can be lost, but there is nothing surprising. The department was simply dismantled, and so she layer over 300 years.

The second interesting building on "Square of Wonders" is Baptistery. The first questions that all tourists ask are: "And what is it at all for the building? What is it necessary for what?", Perhaps, we will answer them.

This building in our could be called "baptizing". Some richest temples could afford to build a separate building for baptism. Of course, in the 11th century, the Pisans were rich enough for this. Even the whole complex they built outside urban walls to show confidence in their safety.

Baptistery is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It was built later, in 1153. He is above the temple itself and may argue on the vertical size with the Pisa Tower located nearby. The facade of the building has already mentioned by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Pisano.

First of all, this structure is interesting because any words that have been told in any place can be heard at any point of the room. The sound changes, and after reflection from the walls, the tint of the sound of the organ acquires.

Sculptures inside are very beautiful and we suggest you to watch a small photo gallery below.

Click on photo to enlarge.

The stairs can be climbed to the second floor and look at the Baptistery from above. The main thing, be careful on the second floor, since the railing is not very high and they do not look much durable. The top view opens an interesting view of the area of ​​the rite.

It is on the second floor the effect "Organ reflection" manifests itself brighter. Fortunately, during our visit to the sights of Pisa, all tourists behaved quietly enough, and every traveler had the opportunity to check this physical phenomenon.

The third interesting place on the "Square of Miracles" is Monumental cemetery.

It does not look like modern burial familiar to us, as it is inside the building. The building is very impressive in size. View from the inside you can look at the photo below.

Here are sarcophages with the departed. Some very ancient, the times of the Roman Empire and the Roman Republic, there are modern. We can say that this is an elite burial place.

The land for the cemeteries was brought here directly from Jerusalem, when during the third cross campaign it was able to take it from there. After that, this opportunity was no longer.

You can see some of the most interesting sarcophages in a small photo gallery below.

Click on photo to enlarge.

During the Second World War around the city of Pisa, bloody battles were conducted. On the Pisan Tower, the Germans were equipped with an observation post, but the allies did not decide to shoot her.

Monumental cemetery is lucky much less. Wooden roof caught fire after hitting air bombs and almost completely collapsed, damaging many objects inside. Suffered the most interesting work of art that you can see here. This is the fresco "Triumph of Death".

Its most famous part is called the "Devil’s Head", and you can see it in a small gallery photo of the parts of this work, which will find a little below.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Price to visit and affordable tickets to the Pisa Cathedral.

Tickets can be bought in advance on the site, but there is no point in that. If you want to climb the Pisa Tower, then in the purchase of tickets over the Internet there is a sense, since the number of tourists in the group is limited, and tickets at the right time at the checkout may simply not be.

Tickets to the cathedral is always there, and the price when buying at the box office and the site is the same – this is 8 euros, you will not save anything. It is better to buy a full ticket, which allows you to see: Pisa Cathedral, Baptistery, Monumental Cemetery and Sosopias Museum, It costs 8 euros.

Have a successful visit to Pisa and read our ITALY reviews (Links below).