Pisa-Piazza dei Miracoli (Il Campo)

Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa is like a “Symphony in white”. That’s the first thought I had when seeing it. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Duomo, the Baptistery, everything is white. Some people name the place Campo dei Miracoli, or simply Il Campo. Once in Pisa, you can ask about any of these names if trying to find the way.

Pisa-Piazza-dei-Miracoli-Baptistery

Pisa-The Baptistery

The Duomo

At the center of the Piazza dei Miracoli is the Duomo, the Cathedral of Pisa. The construction, in Romanesque style, started in 1063, and was consecrated in 1118. The interior displays a strong Byzantine influence. The pulpit, a marvel of Medieval sculpture, is the work of Giovanni Pisano, and was executed between 1302-1310.

The Baptisery

The other attraction in Piazza dei Miracoli is the Baptistery, situated on the west side of the Duomo. The construction, also in Romanesque style, began in 1152, the architect being Deotisalvi.

The loggia, in Gothic style, was added a century later by Nicola Pisano. The dome of the Baptistery was finished in the 14th Century, and the bronze figure of St. John the Baptist on top of the dome is attributed to Turino di Sano, an artist of the 14th Century.

The Baptistery is the largest in Italy, and has also outstanding acoustics, with multiple echo effects, claimed to be unique in the world. You can check it yourself, as acoustic demonstrations are performed few times a day by the guard personnel. The pulpit in the Baptistery is one of Nicola Pisano's masterpieces, created between 1255-1260.

It is interesting to note that the roof of the dome is done in two colors, as it is covered with a combination of red tiles and lead plaques, and might look somehow unfinished from a distance.

If you travel to Italy, and you want to visit Pisa first:

Choose a flight straight to Pisa Galileo Galilei International Airport. If you are already in Tuscany, Pisa is easy to reach by train or by car.

By Train: Frequent trains run from Florence to Pisa. The journey takes between 1h 6 min and 1h 31 min. A one way ticket is 5.60 Euros.

If you drive: A good GPS will do the job! Just keep in mind that the trip takes more by car (sometimes much more, depending on the traffic) than by train.

You can get all the info you need about Pisa at the Tourist Office:

Agenzia per il Turismo di Pisa (APT)
Galleria Gerace , 14
56124 -Pisa
Tel:050-929777
E-mail: info@pisa.turismo.toscana.it
http://www.pisaturismo.it