Rick Steves'
Best of Italy in 17 Days
P
"Vespers For The Blessed Virgin"
was composed in the 1600s by
Claudio Monteverdi and was,
in scale, the most ambitious work
of religious music before Bach.
Where are we?
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 The "Field of Miracles" containing the Baptistry, Duomo and Leaning Tower in the background. |
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 Perfunctory tourist shot... |
 Duomo (Cathedral) |
 The Cathedral's bronze doors were designed by Pisano in 1186. |
 Duomo interior |
 2001 pulpit and altar by sculptor Guiliano Vangi. |
 Pisa's patron saint, St. Ranieri, lies mummified on the altar. |
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 Pulpit by Giovanni Pisano (1250-1319) |
 The Baptistry is the largest in Italy and renowned for its wonderful acoustics. |
 Statue of John the Baptist on the 1246 octagonal font. |
 183 foot tall Leaning Tower. |
"When in Pisa, do as the..."
DAY 11 (MIDDAY)
How DO they do that?
The Americanization of Pisa...
Novel down spout
Amiable street entertainer
Pisa's Archbishop's Palace with statue of Moses.
Although difficult to leave the Cinque Terre, we boarded our bus and headed southeast towards hill town Siena. Enroute we stopped briefly in PISA. Most people, including us, associate Pisa with the Leaning Tower. We were taken aback, as we entered through the old city gates, by the rather minor role the Leaning Tower actually plays on the Field of Miracles.
We were given a generous amount of time to tour the huge Cathedral (Duomo), Baptistry, climb the Leaning Tower and eat lunch. As lines can often be long at the Tower, we chose to only observe the tourists climbing from the comfort of our table.
The Romanesque Duomo, dating back to 1093, dominates the Piazza dei Miracoli. Most of the medievil art in its impressive interior was destroyed in a 1595 fire, but some of the finest Renaissance artists were hired to replace it. Pisano was one of these and his 15 foot Gothic pulpit can be seen on the north side of the nave.
Italian death notices posted near city walls.
The circular Baptistry is noted not only for its size, the largest in Italy, but also for its acoustics. We were lucky to be there when the security guard demonstrated its 10 second long echo.
NOTE: ATTENTION GRANDPARENTS AND PINNOCHIO FANS!
THE AUTHOR OF THE FAMOUS CHILDREN'S BOOK, ADVENTURES OF PINNOCHIO, WAS BORN IN FLORENCE. SOUVENIRS ABOUND IN NORTHERN ITALY, BUT PINNOCHIO SEEMS TO GO BACK TO THE WOODSHOP AFTER PISA, SO STOCK UP HERE!
May we recommend...
