Pisa is situated in a vast plain on a level with the sea and is divided in two by the River Arno. It is the birthplace of Galileo Galilei. Our visit begins in the centre of the city in Piazza del Duomo or Piazza dei Miracoli, where we can find some of Pisa’s most important monuments, made entirely of marble.
Watch catches our eye first of all is the characteristic Leaning Tower (XII-XIV century), 55,90 metres tall and symbol of the city.
Pisa – Leaning Tower It was begun by Diotisalvi in 1173, but after 10 years when the third floor was being built, construction was suspended due to the fact that a slight inclination in the land had caused an inclination of the tower. Works were begin again in 1275 by Giovanni di Simone and continued, after an adjustment of the main axle, as far as the seventh floor when they were suspended again when the inclination became more noticeable. Tommaso Pisano, in the second half of the fourteenth century built the belfry and brought the Leaning Tower to it present height. It was at the top of the this tower where Galileo Galilei conducted his experiments on the laws of gravity.
The construction of the Cathedral began in 1063 on top of the site of an ancient church and was finished about halfway through the following century. It has the form of a latin cross an elliptic dome to which was added a crown of gothic arches in the fourteenth century.
To the right of the Cathedral, defining the boundaries of the north side of the square, is the monumental cemetery which, with its exterieur in white marble and its blind arches in pilaster strip, blends in perfectly with the architecture of the other monuments in the square.
Pisa – Piazza dei miracoli The building was begun by Giovanni di Simone in 1278 above a former cemetery. Inside the four-sided portico one can find many sarcophagus, mainly from the Romanesque period. Also worthy of note, the tombs.
The Baptistery is a large, tall structure made of marble, filled with extraordinarily rich decorations. The facade, surmounted by a statue of St. John the Baptist.
This building was begun in 1152 by the architect Diotisalvi and work continued until the middle of the thirteenth century under the direction of Nicola Pisano; his son, Giovanni, was responsible for the realisation of the ornamental exterieur of the dome, which was completed only during the second half of the fourteenth century.
FLORENCE
Surrounded by hills covered with grapevines and olive trees is Florence, birthplace of Lorenzo il Magnifico.
Florence is a city rich in monuments and there are so many works of art in this stunning city that it would be impossible to mention them all. Even a short visit to Florence would need at least a few days stay.
Our first stop is the 11th and 12th century church of San Miniato al Monte, probably the most famous Romanesque church in Florence. From here we move on to Piazzale Michelangelo, with its spectacular views of the city and then to Santa Croce (church of the Holy Cross), church of great historical and artistic importance, famous for its many tombs. Began by Arnolfo di Cambio, it was not consecrated until 1443. In the Middle Ages, the square in front of the church was used for meetings, whilst in the Renaissance period tournaments and historical football matches were held there.
In Piazza Duomo, in the heart of the city, there are three of the most famous monuments in Florence : the Cathedral or Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower which is 85 metres tall and the 5th century Baptistery, which Dante called ‘the beautiful St. John’. In this square, on Easter Sunday, the ‘Explosion of the Cart’ takes place, a traditional event dating back to the Middle Ages.
Piazza della Signoria has been the political centre of Florence since the Middle Ages. Here one finds Palazzo Vecchio, built by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1299, with its many sumptuous rooms and apartments filled with works of art.
The Ponte Vecchio, built in 1345, is the oldest bridge of the city. Built across the River Arno, it is flanked on both sides by characteristic shops which, since the end of the 16th century have been home to the goldsmiths. Above the bridge is the Vasari Corridor which links the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace.