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Cattedrale di Pisa

About

The Cattedrale di Pisa, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is the architectural heart of Piazza dei Miracoli and a masterpiece of Pisan Romanesque style. Founded in 1064 after Pisa’s victory in Palermo, the cathedral was designed by Buscheto, who blended Classical, Byzantine, Lombard, and Islamic influences into a harmonious whole. Its striking façade, later completed by Rainaldo, features blind arches, marble inlays, and tiers of elegant loggias. Inside, visitors encounter a vast basilica plan with five aisles, a majestic dome over the crossing, and artworks shaped by centuries of devotion and restoration. The alternating black‑and‑white marble, the pulpit, and the shimmering mosaics reflect the wealth and cosmopolitan spirit of the medieval maritime republic. Today the cathedral remains one of Italy’s most iconic sacred spaces, offering a profound encounter with history, faith, and artistic brilliance.

Pisa Italy

Location

Cattedrale di Pisa, also known as Pisa Cathedral or Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, stands in the heart of Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), a UNESCO World Heritage site on Pisa's northern edge just outside the medieval city walls. This Pisan Romanesque masterpiece anchors a stunning architectural ensemble amid expansive green lawns, surrounded by the iconic Leaning Tower as its bell tower, the circular Baptistery of San Giovanni with its renowned acoustics, and the solemn Camposanto Monumentale cemetery adorned with frescoes. Nearby, the Cathedral Museum and Sinopias Museum house related treasures, while a short walk connects to Pisa's lively historic centre via tree-lined avenues and fortified gates.

Cattedrale di Pisa

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