Piazza del Duomo, Pisa

Welcome to the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, universally known as the 'Piazza dei Miracoli' or the Field of Miracles. This 22-acre expanse of emerald green grass and dazzling white marble is one of the most significant architectural…

The center of the complex is the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the oldest and largest building on the square. Construction began in 1063 under the architect Buscheto, making it the most spectacular Roman Catholic…

Inside the cathedral, do not miss what many consider the masterpiece of medieval sculpture: the pulpit carved by Giovanni Pisano between 1302 and 1310. This work revolutionized sculpture by introducing figures that are physically…

Now, we turn our attention to the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the free-standing bell tower of the cathedral. While it is an architectural icon, it is also one of history's greatest engineering failures. …

The Leaning Tower is not just a curiosity of engineering; it is also a site of legendary scientific discovery. It was here, in the late 1500s, that the famous Pisan physicist Galileo Galilei is said to have conducted his…

Across from the cathedral stands the round Baptistery of St. John, the largest of its kind in Italy. …

The northern edge of the square is bounded by the long, white marble wall of the Camposanto Monumentale, or the Monumental Cemetery. This 'Holy Field' was built in 1277 around a shipload of sacred soil brought back from Mount…

As you walk away from the Piazza dei Miracoli, take one last look at the silhouette of these four white giants against the Tuscan sky. You have experienced a place where the grandeur of a maritime empire was transformed into…