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The Piazza dei Miracloi (square of miracles) is such an appropriately named plaza with some of the world's most famous buildings. This really was a whistlestop look at these fabulous buildings and of course a bit of fun with the tower - did not do it last time I was here so had to give it a go this time....
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Europe's, and the worlds, most famous towers. Construction on the tower started in 1173 but wasn't finished until the late fourteenth century. The cylindrical tower is 56 metres tall, has eight stories, six of them with open galleries. Inside the spiral staircase has 294 steps leading to the top of the tower which costs 18 Euros. Only 40 people are allowed in at one time so be prepared to wait at busy times.
The Duomo, (or cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta), is an imposing white building built in the Pisan Romanesque style dating from 1063. The facade, constructed in the twelfth century, has four tiers of open galleries housing statues and decorated with marble inlay. The doors have bronze panels with bas-reliefs from the sixteenth century. Inside there are a sixteenth-century wood ceiling, several important art works, and a magnificent marble pulpit. Entry into the cathedral is free BUT you have to have a ticket....go figure!!
The Battistero or Baptistery is a round white-marble building also built in the Pisan Romanesque style and is dedicated to St John the Baptist. Construction started in 1152 and was completed in the late fourteenth century with the addition of an eight-sided cupola. The pulpit, supported by lions resting on columns, is decorated with scenes from the life of Christ. Also, inside are some impressive statues, originally from the outside. Standing at 55 metres and with a circumference of more than 100 metres it is the largest baptistery in Italy. To put this into perspective it would take at least 50 people to embrace it.
Fun Facts:
Name: Tower of Pisa, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Bell Tower of Pisa
Italian Name: Torre Pendente di Pisa
Original height: 60 metres
Actual height: 56.6 metres on the highest side and 55.8 metres on the lowest side
Weight: 14,500 tonnes
Lean: The tower has tilted an extra millimetre every year since construction and is currently 4.47 metres off where it should be (more than 5 degrees).
Pisa got its name in 600 BC from a Greek word meaning "marshy land"!!
The Cathedral and the Baptistery are also sinking!!
But in Pisa you can also find two other leaning towers:
- the Bell Tower of San Nicola Church, near the banks of the Arno River. The octagonal Bell Tower is a little bit tilted and buried in the pavement compared to the current plan.
- the Bell Tower of San Michele of Scalzi Church. Probably due to the 1966 flood of the Arno River a land subsidence caused the leaning of the Tower, that nowadays has a slope of 5%.
Well that was it.....as I said a very quick stop!!
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