Short guide book and Faithful souvenir for you
Published about 1948
T
he Arno runs through the whole town so that divides it in equal parts.
At present the southern part is much ruined. But the principal monuments are enought intact,
becouse artisticheart of Pisa is all in a admirable corner circumscribed by ancient mediaeval walls, in
the northern part.
But before telling the beautiful things to look,it is useful to know some historical notices about
In the fifth century before Christ Pisa has been an Etruscan centre; after the second century before Christ a Roman. In the eleventh century after Christ it was a powerful mariner republic, that conquered Sardinia, Corsica and Baleari isles, its merchants plaied very much in Oriental markets. The power of Pisa was destroyed by Genoa with the famous sea fight near the reef of Meloria bifore Leghorn, in 1284.
The Chatedral, the Leaning Tower, the Babtistery, the Ancient Cemetery, four pearls of Pisa, are placed in a green field (called Miracles square) limited by the mediaeval walls. This square is very beautiful and worthy of its fame.
Leaning Tower is singular among the most singular towers in the world on account of the beauty of its architecture and its singular statics. It was begun in 1173, but only in the second half of 1300 terminated on account of incessant land-slips and for that reason it is leaning.
It is from the northern side 181 ft from the southern side 178 ft; high, its inclination from the vertical axis is 14 ft. Through the thick wall is escaved the winding - staircase with 294 steps.
From the top (there are seven big bells, which reproduce the seven musical notes) beautiful panorama of Pisa, of Pisan prairie, of Pisan mountains, of the Appennines and beyond a pine-wood, of the sea.
Baptistery, Pisa
Baptistery (foreground), Pisa
From here G. Galilei made the noted experiments on falling of the weights. The foundations are only 9 ft and were reinforced with cement injections into the subsoil in 1933 becouse the inclination multiplied itself 0,04 in. every year.
The Chatedral is a magnificent monument of Roman and Pisan art, it was begun in 1003 under the direction of Architect Buscheto and completed between XII and XIII centuries by Architet Rinaldo.
The façade has three bronze portals representing scenes from the life Christ and our Lady executed after 1595 by disciples of Giambologna (0. Marchi - P. Tacca) Behind the Chatedral there is the Apse, and to the left side a fine bronze portal by Bonano Pisano (1180) at present it is in safety and hidden by a walling. To the right side of the Apse it is the entrance. The Chatedral has five naves.. The high altar, upon which Crucifix by Giambologna, is into the profound Apse, and round it are the choir-stalls for the Canons, valuable work by expert wood cavers and five centuries old.
The columns are very old and imposing in the nudity of the stone. In the central nave is the beautiful pulpit by Giovanni Pisano. At present it is in safety and hidden by sand-sacks. Before the pulpit is suspended the Galilei’s candelabra, which seeing this great learned discovered the isochronism of the pendulum, so the legend. In the dome of the Apse big mosaic of 1300 by the great Cimabue (1302).
To the left hand, seeing the high altar, in the Holy Eucharist Chapel (B. Lorenzi) are the altar and -the Sacred Vase chisel work by G. Foggini (1685) and beyond the altar the statues by F. Mosca (1563).
Round the walls artistic paintings by painters of 1600 - 1700. You, seeing attentivly, may ask for why the interior be recent and there is no comparison with the external for. In XVI century a terrible burning ruined very much the interior and destroyed the ceiling, the portals and all ornaments. The present precious ceiling of the middle nave is of 1595, in the patricians of Medici, great-dukes of Toscana.
The Babtistery majestic, circular building, was begun in 1152 by Architect Diotisalvi with roman art, but in the second half of the 1200 persued by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano with gothic art, at last in the second half of 1300 completed by Cellino di Nese with the dome. For that reason up to he middle is roman architecture, up to the summit gothic architecture.
Inside the Babtistery is the famous pulpit, masterpiece by Nicola Pisano (1260). In the middle, octagonal babtismal font by 0. Bigarelli (1246). Bronze statue of St. Giovanni Battista. Here the keeper may with his voice you hear a fine acustic resonance.
The Ancient Cemetery is limited by external circuit of marble by Giovanni di Simone (1278). The interior is formed by a portico around a gracious garden the ground of which was carried from Palestine by pisan ships in 1203. Before 1700 every citizens was buried here, but at present only eminent people. The wails of the portico are covered by beautiful and famous frescoes. At present many frescoes are squandered by burning of the ceiling produced by a grenade.
Here is the catalogue of the frescoes:
Southern side
1.° Triumph of the Death (Orcagna). Three scenes: a) Ladies and knights amusing themselves are stopped by a king’s corpse and St Macario admonisches them. b) Anchorite’s life. c) The poor and sick men ask for the death, that instead of them kills the ladies and knights amusing themselves into a delicious wood.
2.° Final sentence and Hell. (Orcagna)
3.° Anchorite’s life (Traini. 1300)
4.° Over the portal the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (Lippo Nemmi)
5.° Six scenes from the St. Ranieri’s life - over by A. Bonaiuti (1377) under by A. Veneziano (1384).
6.° St. Efisio and St. Polito’s histories (Aretino 1390).
7.° Giob’s histories .(Francesco da Volterra 1371). Sculptures. Fragment of the basrelief "Mitra killing the bull" roman mosaic, Adriano’s and Giunio Bruto’s portraits.
West side
1.° Esther’s histories (Ghirlanda and Lomi 1591).
2.° ludith’s histories (Borkhese Guidotti 1607).
In the centre ancient chains of the pisan port. (one time, eight century ago the sea came as far as Pisa). Upon the column big etruscan vase. Fragments of the Gherardesca’s sepulchre (Giov. Pisano’s disciple).
Northern Side
1.° The universe in ancient opinion (Pietro di Puccio 1390).
2.° Adam, Eva, Cain, Abel and Noe’s histories (Pietro di Puccio 1390).
3.° 23 scenes from the Old testament by the famous painter Benozzo Gozzoli (1463) 1-2 Noe’s vintage and his drunkness. 3. Building of Tower of Babele. 4-8 Abraham’s life. 9-11 Isaac’s life. 12-13 Jacob’s marriage. 14-15 Joseph’s life. 16.21 Moise’s life. 22 David Killing Goliath. 22 The queen of Saba going and seeing King Salonion.
In this side there are two chapels: into the first, Ammannati’s chapel, a marble representing the Blessed Virgin and. St. Ranieri’s histories (Tino di Camaino 1311). Into the second, Auila chapel, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin by the famous G. della Robbia 1520. Etruscan stone-coffins; great roman sarcophagus of the second century after Christ.
Oriental (Eastern) Side
l.° King Ozia’s histories. (Rondinosi 1666)
2.° Baldassare’s banquet (Rondihosi 1666)
After the Chapel some Christ’s scenes (Giovan- ni di Nicola 1300)
Nice sculpture by Bartolini (1842) called "The inconsolable" In this side is the Pacinotti’s sepulchre, who discovered the dynamo.
Around another square there are a church and some palaces, that you may admire: around the Knights’ square. (Piazza dei Cavalieri). The Knights’ church was built according to a Vasari’s (1569) project, but the façade by Don Giovanni dei Medici. Inside the church is a beautiful wood-ceiling: painting of 1500. Trophies conquered from turkish pirates by St. Stephan’s Knights.
Near the church is the Knights’ palace built according to a Vasari’s project (1562). Imposing façade with hatchings and portraits of the grand-dukes of Toscana. At present in this palace is the famous Royal Normal Superior School. Before the flight of steps is a fountain with the statue of Cosimo the first. (P. Francavifla 1596). After the Knights’ palace there is the Gherardesca’s palace by Vasari (1607) that is placed where one time was the famous Muda Tower inside which count Ugolino della Gherardesca and his nephews were killed by hunger. (Dante - Hell XXXIII)
In the St. Francisco’s square the Museum at present shut. It is very interesting by master-pieces of old picture of ancient pisan and florentin schools. There were the works by Simone Martini, Gentile da Fabiano, Angelico, Gozzoli, Sodoma, Reni etc.
Near the Museum is the St. Francisco’s church built in 1211, but the marble façade is of 1003. Inside the church are a Marble work by Tomaso Pisano. (The Blessed Virgin and Saints); in the dome of the Apse frescoes. (Gaddi). From the church it is possible to go in the sacristy and in the chapterroom where are very fine frescoes: by Gerini 1392 in the chapter room, by Bartolo in the sacristy.
In the St. Catharina’s square is a beautiful church. (St. Catharina’s church). In the centre of the façade (pisan art) high up is a fine rose-window. Inside the church: one nave; to the left a monumental sepulchre of a archbishop (Nino Pisano 1342) At the second altar St. Thoma’s Triumph (Traini 1364) beside the altar St. Thoma’s pulpit — Upon the hight altar painting of the Blessed Virgin (Simone Martini 1320) Upon the pilastres statues by Nino Pisano.
By the sides of the Arno are many famous palaces but no one of them is intact, everyone was. ruined by german mines. But in the southern side it is possible to admire the little pearl of gothic art, the church of the Christ’s Thorn, built in 1323. The walls are populeted by gracions statues and spires by the Giovanni Pisano’s school.
Must be satisfied wth these few visits to the principal monuments: at present it is not possible to go everywhere by mines and ruins; but these are the principal and characteristic monuments of Pisa.
Cathedral, Pisa
North Bank Arno River looking West, Pisa
South Bank Arno River looking East, Pisa
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This page maintained by Gary Feuerstein
Posted: 28 May 2006
