Gioco del Ponte or the Game of Bridge is a summer attraction in Pisa, a historical manifestation held yearly on the last Sunday of June, in which the people of Tramontana and Mezzogiorno, geographically split by the Arno river, participate in a historical procession, with 709 walk-ons, then challenge each other to a physical match in which their teams, each composed of 20 members, try to conquer the “Ponte di Mezzo” (the main bridge in Pisa) by pushing a trolley in order to force the rival team off the bridge. The actual battle is preceded by a historical procession with … Continue reading →

The Baptistery of Pisa is a round white-marble building whose construction started in 1152 in a Romanesque style and completed in the 1300s in the Gothic style. Nicola and Giovanni Pisano gave the upper part a Gothic transformation between 1277 and 1297 and Cellino di Nese added the Gothic dome in the 1300s. The construction 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. Italy’s largest baptistery, the … Continue reading →

Since the city of Pisa is known mostly for its leaning tower, the other attractions of the place often go underrated. However, Pisa happens to be a city with profound history and enormous artistic wealth. Apart from the famous tower, other sites of attraction in Pisa include Of course, the Field of Miracles, with the Duomo, the Baptistry, the Monumental Cemetery and the Museum of the Sinopie. This city of churches, libraries, science and culture also takes pride in its famous botanical gardens. The garden, locally known as The Orto botanico di Pisa, is operated by the University of Pisa, … Continue reading →

Undoubtedly, Pisa is known mostly for it striking Leaning Tower. However, tourists also have many other attractions in the city. Pisa hosts a number of historical monuments and buildings dating back many hundreds of years and also takes pride in its university, which has become one of Italy’s top schools. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa, Italy. It lies third in being the oldest structure in Pisa’s Piazza del Duomo after the Cathedral and the Baptistry. The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the low side … Continue reading →

The Camposanto Monumentale (“monumental cemetery”) is a historical edifice at the northern edge of the Cathedral Square in Pisa, Italy. “Campo Santo” can be literally translated as “holy field”, because it is said to have been built around a shipload of sacred soil from Golgotha, brought back to Pisa from the Fourth Crusade by the archbishop of Pisa in the 12th century. A legend claims that bodies buried in that ground will rot in just 24 hours. The burial ground lies over the ruins of the old baptistery of the church of Santa Reparata, the church that once stood where … Continue reading →

The Baptistry of St. John in Pisa, Italy happens to be the second building, in the chronological order, in the Piazza dei Miracoli, near the Cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower. It started construction under the designs of the architect Diotisalvi in 1152, in replacement of an older baptistry, and completed in 1363. This 54.86 m high building with a circumference of 107.24 m, is the largest baptistry in Italy. The Baptistry has the lower registers in the Romanesque style, with rounded arches, while the upper registers are in the Gothic style, with pointed arches. The Baptistry is constructed of … Continue reading →