Piazza del Duomo of Pisa

Pisa, a city of art, rich history, and culture, owes its worldwide fame to the monumental Piazza del Duomo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. This symbol of the Maritime Republic of Pisa is best known as the "Piazza dei Miracoli" due to its extraordinary architectural treasures. Are you ready to explore the wonders of this unique square? The massive Piazza del Duomo of Pisa is situated just outside the medieval city center, which was too small to accommodate the impressive religious complex initiated with the construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in 1063 to celebrate the greatness of the powerful Maritime Republic of Pisa.
Prato dei Miracoli, as defined by Gabriele D'Annunzio in 1910, is a vast expanse of green lawn where four masterpieces of medieval monumental art, celebrated worldwide, stand: the famous Leaning Tower, the Camposanto, the Baptistery, and the Cathedral. The history of Piazza dei Miracoli is closely tied to Pisa's period of greatest splendor when it was a powerful maritime republic starting from the early 11th century. The idea was to have an important religious center symbolizing the main stages of human life: birth with the Baptistery, life with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and its Tower, and death with the Camposanto.
The construction of these symbolic sites began in 1063 by the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, a lay-ecclesiastical institution created in the same year to manage the Pisa Cathedral complex. The final appearance of the square was achieved only in the 19th century, thanks to architect Alessandro Gherardesca, who demolished some minor buildings to highlight the four masterpieces defined as "miracles" by Gabriele D'Annunzio. Piazza dei Miracoli and its four masterpieces of medieval and Renaissance architecture were among the first Italian sites to be designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
In 1987, the United Nations agency recognized the uniqueness of this square and its monuments, rich in treasures of medieval and Renaissance art, such as the bronze and mosaic doors of the Cathedral, the pulpits in the Baptistery and the Cathedral, the frescoes in the Camposanto, and many more. Moreover, Piazza del Duomo holds the merit of marking the birth of Pisan Romanesque style, which was later exported to the rest of Tuscany, primarily to Lucca and Pistoia. For first-time visitors to Pisa, the iconic and globally recognized Leaning Tower, which stands behind the Cathedral, is a must-see. Although it may seem like a separate monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was originally built as the cathedral's bell tower.
Construction began in 1173 with six tiers of arcades mirroring the Cathedral's motif, and it was only completed in the second half of the 14th century due to subsidence in the underlying soil, which resulted in the tower's famous lean. The tower stands at 57 meters in height and is accessible by climbing the 294 steps of its spiral staircase from the base, providing a unique view of the entire square and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
Pisa's cathedral represents the epitome of Pisan Romanesque style, blending classical, Islamic, Lombard, and Byzantine elements, reflecting deep connections between the Maritime Republic of Pisa and the Mediterranean. After admiring the magnificent facade, prepare to be amazed by its interiors, rich in artworks, starting with Giovanni Pisano's pulpit, considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian Gothic art.
Across from the Cathedral stands the Baptistery, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, which is the largest in Italy with a circumference of 107 meters and a height of 54 meters. Initiated in 1153 by Diotisalvi and completed in the 14th century, Pisa's Baptistery combines typical Romanesque elements with Gothic features. Inside, you can find Nicola Pisano's pulpit, Giovanni's son, but the true marvel lies in the exceptional acoustics created by the double dome. You only need to speak a few words to experience it, and if you're shy, you can rely on the staff who perform short vocal intonations every 30 minutes to highlight the power of the echo.
Pisa's Camposanto, located to the north of the Piazza dei Miracoli, is a monumental cemetery initiated in 1277, surrounded by a marble enclosure and designed as a cloister. This building, which is a veritable museum of art and archaeology, contributed to the term "camposanto" becoming synonymous with cemetery in Italy. Today, you can walk through its long corridors and discover a rich collection of Roman sarcophagi where several prominent Pisan figures from the past are buried.
The frescoes that adorned the Camposanto for centuries were damaged in 1944, but they have been undergoing careful restoration for years. These masterpieces, including Buonamico Buffalmacco's "The Triumph of Death," now find their home in the nearby Sinopie Museum.
However, Pisa has much more to offer. From Piazza dei Miracoli, you can easily walk to the historic city center, including Piazza dei Cavalieri, the result of a comprehensive renovation commissioned to Giorgio Vasari in 1558. The square is home to the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, the Palazzo del Consiglio dei Dodici, and the Palazzo della Carovana, which houses the Normale di Pisa, one of the oldest, most respected, and sought-after universities in the world.