area operatoriPiazza dei Miracoli
The artistic and tourism centre of Pisa, Piazza del Duomo, is universally known as Piazza dei Miracoli. On display here are the monuments that create the centre of the religious life of the town, as defined by Gabriele d'Annunzio, thanks to their beauty and originality, miracles: the Cathedral, the Baptistry, the Camposanto monumentale and the Leaning Tower. In 1987 the Piazza was included in the UNESCO listing as a World Heritage Site.
The lawn-covered Piazza is reserved for pedestrians and took on its final look only in the 19th century. This was primarily the work of architect Alessandro Gherardesca, who oversaw the restoration of the famous monuments.
The Tower is the most famous leaning bell tower in the world and a universally renowned monument. Construction began in 1173 and, in 1274, the tower began to lean to one side before the completion of the third order.
The Tower's inclination is a result of the sandy silt soil on which the foundations are based, just three metres deep. The leaning was reduced by around 40 centimetres following the consolidation works in the 1990s and the monument was once again opened to the public, even if with a more limited access than previously.
The stunning marble Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is the focal point of the complex. This monument is a Latina cross building, began in 1063, and was declared a Primatial Church in 1092, when Pope Urban II conferred the title of Primate to the archbishop Daiberto, an honour that is a mere formality today.
Rising to the front of the western facade of the Cathedral is the Baptistry dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It takes the place of a previous, smaller baptistry that used to be to the north of the Cathedral. Inside, an unusual truncated cone-shaped cupola covers only the internal round of pillars. The 107.25 m circumference makes it the largest baptistry in both Italy and the world.
The Camposanto monumentale is found at the northern edges of the Piazza. Legend has it that it was built around a layer of land brought from the Holy Land to Pisa by sea after the Second Crusade (12th century). It is a rectangular cloister structure in florid gothic style.
During the Second World War an artillery bullet landed on the lead roof, causing the perimeter walls, covered in their marvellous frescoes, to melt and sag. Restoration works which commenced immediately after the war are still underway today. The preliminary drawings of these frescoes were discovered when the frescoes became detached from the walls and are currently on display in the Museo delle Sinopie, which is situated in the old 13th century hospital on the south side of the Piazza.
Admission
• 1 monument: € 5.00 (choice between Baptistry, Camposanto monumentale, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Museo delle Sinopie)
• 2 monuments: € 6.00
• 4 monuments: € 8.00
School groups
• 1 monument: € 2.00
• 2 monuments: € 3.00
• 4 monuments: € 4.00
Please note that an educational workshop conducted by expert staff is available for school groups.
Directions from Pisa Centrale station
By bus:
• LAM Rossa route 1 (San Jacopo), from the Stazione FS 6 stop to the Torre 1 stop (map)
