World Site Guides

PISA

Pisa Cathedral, Pisa

Pisa Cathedral history

The construction of Pisa cathedral, also known as Duomo di Pisa, began in 1063 under the architect
Buscheto. This man was also the founder of the distinctive Pisan Romanesque style in which the
cathedral is built.

The cathedral is also inspired by several other architectural styles. By looking at the four rows of open
gallery above the entrance, visitors can find several smaller round arches, which is a typical feature in
Moorish architecture. The inside also shows signs of Byzantine influences, especially the beautiful
mosaic.

As Pisa was a strong naval power, historians believe that these influences were brought into the city by
different travelers and sailors. The cathedral is, and was at the time of its construction, one of the most
impressive cathedrals in the world.

There is no coincidence that this beautiful cathedral is located here in Pisa, as Pisa used to be one of the
most powerful cities in the Mediterranean area.

The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption.

Why visit Pisa Cathedral ?

Pisa cathedral is truly a beautiful site which has a lot to offer. One of its most striking features is without
a doubt the impressive exterior. By looking towards the very top of the west façade, visitors can a statue
of Mary with the child. On either side of her stand the four evangelists.

Another thing that makes the façade stand out is the massive bronze gates. A closer inspection of the
gates will reveal that they are covered in beautiful relief, depicting different biblical stories.

Interior

While the white, shining outside of the cathedral truly is stunning, the same must also be said about its
inside. Inside visitors can experience the massive nave and the beautiful aisle. The nave of the cathedral
is flanked by granite Corinthian columns. Unknown to many is that these columns actually comes from
the mosque of Palermo. The columns were captured by the Pisans and brought to the city in year 1063.

Great works of art

The inside also holds some of the greatest medieval works of art in the world, even though a fire in late
16th century destroyed the majority of them. One that survived the fire is the mosaic in the apse. The
impressive mosaic depicts Christ in Majesty, flanked by the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Evangelist.

Stunning pulpit

However, the most striking piece of art is probably the elaborately carved pulpit, which also survived the
fire. The pulpit was made by Giovani Pisano and is highly regarded as one of the masterworks of
medieval sculptures.

The pulpit is supported by plain columns as well as statue-like column known as Caryatids and Telamons.
The upper part of the pulpit contains reliefs depicting dramatic scenes from the New Testament – all the
way from the Annunciation to the Crucifixion.
Cathedral tombs

The cathedral also contains several tombs of important persons. One of them is St. Ranierius – Pisa’s
patron saint and the patron saint of all travelers. The cathedral also holds the tomb of the Holy Roman
Emperor Henry VII. Pope Gregory VIII was also buried in the cathedral, but the fire in 1600th century
destroyed his tomb.

Much to see

As one can imagine, there is a ton of things to see both on the cathedrals outside and on its inside. A fun
fact which the majority of the visitors do not know is that the cathedral, just like the tower, tilts. It
doesn’t tilt nearly as much as the Leaning Tower, but visitors standing on the sidewalk should be able to
see it.

Pisa Cathedral location

Pisa Cathedral is located in central Pisa, on Italy’s west coast. The baptistery is situated on the famous
Piazza dei Miracoli. For the exact location of Pisa Cathedral, check out the location map to the right.

Pisa Cathedral with Baptistery, Campanile and Campo Santo, together form one of the most famous
building groups in the world. The cathedral is one of the finest of the Romanesque period and has a
strongly marked individuality. It resembles other early basilican churches in plan, with long rows of
columns connected by arches, double aisles, and a nave which has the usual timber roof. The exterior
has bands of red and white marble, and the ground storey is faced with wall relief by tiers of wall
passages which rise one above another right into the gable. The transepts, each with an apse at the end,
were an advance on the simple basilican plan. The elliptical dome over the crossing is of later date. The
building depends for its interest on its general proportions and on the delicacy of its ornamental
features, rather than on any new structural development, such as may be seen in northern Italy."

— Sir Banister Fletcher. A History of Architecture. p315.

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History

Construction on the cathedral began in 1063 (1064 according to the Pisan calendar of the time) by the
architect Buscheto, and expenses were paid using the spoils received fighting against the Muslims in
Sicily in 1063.[2] It includes various stylistic elements: classical, Lombard-Emilian, Byzantine, and Islamic,
drawing upon the international presence of Pisan merchants at that time. In the same year, St. Mark's
Basilica began its reconstruction in Venice, evidence of a strong rivalry between the two maritime
republics to see which could create the most beautiful and luxurious place of worship.

The church was erected outside Pisa's early medieval walls, to show that Pisa had no fear of being
attacked.[citation needed] The chosen area had already been used in the Lombard era as a necropolis
and at the beginning of the 11th century a church had been erected here, but never finished, that was to
be named Santa Maria.[citation needed] Buscheto's grand new church was initially called Santa Maria
Maggiore until it was officially named Santa Maria Assunta.[citation needed]

In 1092 the cathedral was declared a primatial church, archbishop Dagobert having been given the title
of Primate by Pope Urban II. The cathedral was consecrated in 1118 by Pope Gelasius II, who belonged
to the Caetani family which was powerful both in Pisa and in Rome.

In the early 12th century the cathedral was enlarged under the direction of architect Rainaldo, who
increased the length of the nave by adding three bays consistent with the original style of Buscheto,
enlarged the transept, and planned a new facade which was completed by workers under the direction
of the sculptors Guglielmo and Biduino.[3] The exact date of the work is unclear: according to some, the
work was done right after the death of Buscheto about the year 1100, though others say it was done
closer to 1140. In any case, work was finished in 1180, as documented by the date written on the bronze
knockers made by Bonanno Pisano found on the main door.

The structure's present appearance is the result of numerous restoration campaigns that were carried
out in different eras. The first radical interventions occurred after the fire of 1595, following which the
roof was replaced and sculptors from the workshop of Giambologna, among whom were Gasparo Mola
and Pietro Tacca, created the three bronze doors of the facade. In the early 18th century began the
redecoration of the inside walls of the cathedral with large paintings, the "quadroni", depicting stories of
the blesseds and saints of Pisa. These works were made by the principal artists of the era, and a group of
citizens arranged for the special financing of the project. Successive interventions occurred in the 19th
century and included both internal and external modifications; among the latter was the removal of the
original facade statues (presently in the cathedral museum) and their replacement with copies.

Other notable interventions include: the dismantling of Giovanni Pisano's pulpit between 1599 and 1601
that only in 1926 was reassembled and returned to the cathedral (with some original pieces missing,
including the staircase); and the dismantling of the monument to Henry VII made by Lupo di Francesco
that was found in front of the door of San Ranieri and later substituted by a simpler, symbolic version.