PISA—ITALY Article printed on newsprint, pasted into an 1845 publication, "The Cultivator", used as a scrap book, in which several dozen articles are included, most appear to be from the 1870's and 1880's. Editor's Title shown above, not other dates or identifying text. Pisa is one of the most ancient and beautiful cities of Italy, in the grand duchy of Tuscany, and stands in a fertile plain, about eight miles from the entrance of the Arno into the sea. The air is tolerably healthy, and mild. Instead of the 150,000 inhabitants which it formerly contained, the city now numbers scarcely 17,000. Silence and solitude reign here as in the other great cities of Italy which have finished their part in history. The Arno divides the city into two nearly equal parts, Con­nected by three bridges, and the two great quays are adorned with edifices in the noblest style, whose fortified appearance recalls the warlike days of the republic. The streets are mostly wide, straight, and well-paved; but the grass growing between the stones, is a melancholy mark of depopulation. “The object,” said a distinguished traveler, “which attracts the eye on entering Pisa, is that wonder of the world, the leaning tower; by far the most curious and interesting of the famous towers of Italy. It is a round structure, nearly one hundred and ninety feet high, and it leans thirteen feet. It is eight stories high; each story is supported by columns, of which there are two hundred and eight in all, of every variety of material, of granite, and of every kind of marble, of every order of architecture. Doric, Grecian, Ionic, Corinthian, Composite, etc., probably taken from ancient buildings, affording a rich treat to the architect and antiquary. The construction is curious; it was built at three different periods, having been commenced about the year 1174. The stories do not all lean equally; the fourth leans in a greater degree than the others, while the eighth, if not perfectly erect, inclines a little to the other side. By far the most interesting question arising with regard to the tower; is, was it built leaning? or is this the ef­fect of natural causes? Rejecting the supposition that an earthquake caused it to fall into this position (because the shock of an earthquake nec­essary to produce this effect, would have produced more then the leaning). I think that the ground has sunk, for the following reasons: 1st the laws of gravity were not then known, consequently the arch­itect cannot be presumed to have been acquainted with them; if he built the tower leaning, he ought certainly to have presumed it would fall; 2d, the steps are not erect, they also lean; surely these would have been erect, if the tower was built leaning besides, excavations have discovered that the steps extend all around, which would be useless if the tower was built as it now exists; 3d, in a picture of the tower in the Campo Santo, it is perfectly erect, but with seven stories only; and 4th. this declination from the perpendicular exists not only with regard to the tower, but is found, also, in regard to the Duomo and Baptistery, which stands at the side. Be that. as it may, however, this white marble tower is very curious, and the view from the top, fine. “Near this is the cathedral, built in the Gothic style, very rich in the profusion of marbles with which it is adorned in columns and blocks. One front is built with an immense number, among which are some that are twisted; others are of porphyry; six, which support the frame of the doors, are of white marble, worked very much, and thought to: be ancient. The doors themselves are of bronze, curiously worked in relief, exhibiting the facts related with regard to the Madonna, etc. The church inside is ornamented with seventy-four columns, very lofty, sixty-two of granite, the others are of rare marble. The altars are richly ornamented with lapis lazuli, agate, etc. The roof is formed in mosaic, while every occasion is taken to dispose of an immense number of small columns of verde antique, and the richest kind of porphyry. This church is called magnificent; its splendor consists in the profusion and variety of the marbles; yet to me it did not appear worthy of the praise bestowed upon it; for I could see little beauty in the want of uniformity seen there; thus, of three pillars, one would be twisted, the two others straight; one of white, a sec­ond of yellow, a third of green marble; one would be worked, the two others plain so with all. “Continuing your walk, within a stone’s throw of the cathedral is another building of white marble, octagonal, in the German Gothic style, erected about the twelfth century, called the Baptistery, built m the time of the pros­perity of the city, at the ex­pense of the inhabitants, who each paid a florin toward it. The inside is built like one of the ancient temples; eight large columns of granite support twelve arches, while the cupola, which is very handsome, is supported by four pilasters of white marble. The pulpit is handsome, and is sustained by eight pillars of white marble and oriental alabaster, beautifully carved, and representing the birth of the Savior, the adora­tion of the magi, his presenta­tion in the temple, his crucifix­ion, and the last judgment, which is exceedingly curious. In the centre of the building is the font, containing four places for the immersion of infants, while that in the centre is for adults; but I be­lieve this practice is now discontinned. “In the rear of the Duomo, or cathedral, is the most cu­rious edifice upon this square, viz., Campo Santo, which is rectangular. Some earth, which was brought from the holy land, is surrounded by sixty-two arcades, in the Gothic style, of white mar­ble, while this walk is paved with large stones of the same material. With the exception of these four remarkable buildings there is little to detain the stranger at Pisa. There are numerous churches; thus “Della Spina” attracts by its Gothic exte­rior. it was built by a beggar. The others con­tain the usual assortment of “pieces of the true cross,” finger and toe-bones of the different saints set in gold fine pictures, and statues. St. Stefano contains an organ, said to be the finest in Europe Leaning Tower of Pisa Information Leaning Tower of Pisa History Leaning Tower of Pisa News Leaning Tower of Pisa Web Links Leaning Tower of Pisa Humor Leaning Tower of Pisa Gallery This page maintained by Gary Feuerstein Posted: 29 October 2006