Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
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The Cattedrale di Pisa is the centerpiece of all the buildings in the Square of Miracles, located in Pisa Italy. The have two entrances to view the inside. The Western entrance is for visitors who want to admire the ornate inside of a Roman Cathedral in its glory. Pictures and talking are not allowed during mass. The Eastern entrance can be used for worshippers for daily mass and Sunday mass. Sunday mass happens 4 times (8, 9:30, 11, 12:30). We were able to attend the 11 mass, but was late because I remembered the time wrong. The guard at the entrance still let us in. I think it was the most beautiful church we've ever celebrated mass in. The mass was in Italian, but it followed the ceremony of Vatican II, and we were able to follow along. It lasted about 45 minutes, and stayed a little afterwards to pray and contemplate. It was a wonderful part of our day.
Located next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the Piazza dei Miracoli. A Romanesque marble cathedral started in 1064 built in the shape of a Latin cross, with a central nave. It was completed in 1092. Additional enlargements and a new facade were built in the 12th century. The roof was replaced after damage from a fire in 1595. The interior has white and black marble, with monolithic grey marble columns. An updated wooden 17th-century coffered ceiling, painted and decorated with gold leaf, made by Domenico and Bartolomeo Atticciati. The inside of the dome, is decorated using a rare painting technique called encaustic and depicts the Virgin in glory with saints by the artists Orazio and Girolamo Riminaldi. The dome was restored from 2015 to 2018. The large mosaic of Christ between the Virgin and Saint John painted by Cimabue in 1302 miraculously survived the fire of 1595. Arrive early in the morning. At 9:30 am on a Sunday I thought the grounds and buildings were already crowded, but my driver noted- "I'm glad we arrived before the crowds and the heat. Also on Sunday morning, you won't be able to freely roam the entire church, as it is still a place of local worship and services will be held. Parking is a few blocks away. Expect to walk a bit. Wear sunscreen in the summer, it hot even at 9 am.
The cathedral is an example of Pisan Romanesque architecture, was designed in 1604 and shows, in its brightness, the influence of various styles and cultures: During trips to North Africa & the Middle East, Pisan sailors admired the different worlds they visited and were deeply influenced by them. The columns in the Duomo remind me of ones Id see in mosques. The cathedral was consecrated in 1118. There was a fire in 1595 in the Cathedral, many important works are still preserved.
I am not a religious person so I can't speak for the history of this church or any noteworthy historical snippet of information about it. All I can tell you is about the jaw dropping paintings, architecture and opulence inside of this church. Although to be frank, every time you go into a basilica in Italy you basically have the same opinion. It is amazing, it is ornate, it has intricately carved statues. I know I must sound repetitive when I use the same words and adjectives to describe each of these buildings, but really, they are all just that, amazing piece of history. I do not approve of what they represent but I can admire the art for art sake. The most amazing thing about this church full of amazing art is perhaps it's organ. I mist have stared at it for 5 solid minutes ( And to my dismay I realized after I got out of the building that I did not take a single picture of) If you have to compare notes to which of all the attractions in the Pisa square, I would have to say this basilica is by far the most beautiful and worth seeing. More so than tower. Of course the tower is the star of the show, but this church is a masterpiece on its own, and far more interesting, And this opinion is purely based on art and architecture, not in any way shape or form on it's religious aspect because like I said, I don't believe in any of the stuff, I am just here for sightseeing purposes. LOL
This is included with the Tower of Pisa ticket, so why not? The sign says no photos, but everyone was snapping like it was the end of the world, so I went along with it. Don't hold it against me! It's a beautiful cathedral and it's massive as well. It's pretty interesting how important religion has been in history and Europe really expresses that in the quality of its cathedral's! This is a prime exception. This is an amazing place, so if you visit the Tower of Pisa, it's included, so go for it!
Compared to the star, the leaning Tower of Pisa, the cathedral sits in its shadow. You'll see a herd of people attempting to pick, kick, kiss, or lean into the 'tower' in the walkway right by the cathedral. If you're in the area, I would recommend to take a few moments of serenity and walk the aisles of the cathedral. Compared to Roman cathedrals, Santa Maria Assunta seems a little diminutive till you realize that this wonderful cathedral is in the midst of a very tiny town with the same inlay flooring as St. Peters, with a wonderful gleaming golden ceiling, and art work by masters centering on the pulpit. It does hold it's own to most cathedrals especially for a smaller town. It's actually quite astonishing the amount of careful carving and artwork that went into this. We arrived during it's restoration so we couldnt see all of the ceiling or large paintings that overhang the front of the church. That doesnt take away the wonderful solemn beauty of the cathedral. Take some time away from the madness outside and enjoy the grace and beauty held inside.
I went for its tower but ended up loving the Duomo. Almost all, if not truly all, visitors of Pisa went for the world-famous leaning tower, but surprisingly even if there is a crowd outside to pose with the tower, very few people seem to notice the much bigger structure nearby that is also the reason for the tower's construction: the Pisa Duomo, or formally Catedrale di Santa Maria Assunta! Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the Pisa Duomo was the answer to compete against the then-reconstructing Basilica di San Marco in Venezia when both Pisa and Venezia were competing maritime powers. As a display of power, the then-powerful Pisa built this grand cathedral complex combined with the largest baptistery in modern-day Italy and of course the famous (unintentionally) leaning bell tower - right outside the city wall also as a show of confidence. The result is an uniquely beautiful cathedral that is a blend of various architectural styles from various parts of the world, like the internationalism of the then Pisan merchants. On the outside, the white facade is fantastically adorned with detailed sculptures and reliefs of many tales. Inside, it's an elegant yet ornate cathedral that is truly unlike others, especially with the beautiful striped arches that flank the sides and the Renaissance-esque ceiling that was forward of its time. Although this cathedral never matched with San Marco's extravagance because of waning Pisan power, it is nonetheless a worthy competition of beauty to the Venetian basilica in my opinion. In the end, this church was actually my favorite part of Pisa and also one of my favorites in the world, and it is a shame that only a small fraction of the tower admirers stepped inside this "hidden gem" especially when it's free. If you are already making your way to go to Pisa, why not take a step into this gorgeous cathedral? --- ADMISSION: The admission to the cathedral is free, whether you purchase admission to other sights in the Piazza or not. All you need is to get a "timed ticket" at the ticket counter in the building south of the Baptistery. The entrance is technically timed, but I don't think the door staff won't care because it's never full inside. --- HOW TO REACH PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (https://www.yelp.com/biz/piazza-dei-miracoli-pisa?hrid=R9FEXF6UDKph9lvD8yeWVg) The easiest train station to reach is Pisa Centrale, although the smaller Pisa S Rossore is only a 5-minute walk away from the Piazza. Centrale may be better because more and faster trains pass through it. From Roma, you can directly connect to Centrale via a 2.5-hour Frecciabianca ride. From Firenze, you can directly connect to Centrale via a 1-hr "Regionale Veloce" (1.5 on regular Regionale) ride. From Pisa Centrale, you can choose to 1) walk 20 minutes or 2) take the 10-minute LAM Rossa bus. I recommend taking the bus because the fare is only €1 with a 4-ticket carnet from any newsstand and the rest of Pisa is dull, but beware of the pickpockets. Since you have to transfer at Pisa Centrale for Cinque Terre (unless you are directly going to La Spezia from Roma), why not make a Leaning Tower stopover? --- tl;dr version: 1) The main reason why there is a Leaning Tower to begin with! 2) Uniquely beautiful cathedral that is ignored by many 3) If you're already in Pisa, why not enter for free?
There is not much to add but it's one of those places you have to see in person to appreciate. Note: You can purchase a ticket for the leaning tower and have free access to the duomo. While it can get crowded, it seems there's never really a line where you'd have to wait to get in. People are usually in and out. I have to admit I could just spend the afternoon here, there's something about the serenity and calmness that this place brings out in you. I actually favor this duomo over the one in Florence.
If you're at the Pisa tower, you might as well visit Duomo being as its a walking distance away. Though the Duomo is often less photographed compared to Pisa from my observation. Some people could spend hours here, whilst others only need about 10 minutes. The site itself is lovely, but it's even nicer inside. No entrance fee too!
As soon as you get to Pisa tower; Standing in a large green grass, this beautiful building is just beside the tower. Its a masterpiece of medieval architecture from the outside to inside. The entrance is free and you can do no flash photography. Make sure you go in as this was one of the beautiful churches I visited in Italy.
2 years ago
This church is HUGE! It is beautiful...beyond beautiful inside. The ornate details and architecture is outstanding. I sat in here for a while pondering life... read more
2 years ago
I know that when many people hear of the town of Pisa, they think of the famous Leaning Tower, but there is so much more to see there than just that - such as the Pisa Cathedral. Pisa is very easy to visit from Rome or Florence via train for a day trip (or for several days, if you're wanting to stay longer!) We visited as a stopover on our Trenitalia trip back to Rome from Cinque Terre's Manarola. We only had about 4 hours in Pisa before we had to head back to our train, so we made our way directly toward the Piazza dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower, but the Pisa Cathedral was surprisingly just as beautiful and impressive! You cannot see the Cathedral or any other of the Piazza dei Miracoli buildings by driving by or standing outside on the street. You have to go through a small marketplace of vendors to get to the archway entry. Once inside the entryway, that is where you will see the buildings you are looking for in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The Il Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta (Pisa Cathedral) holds so much beauty and history. The art inside, including the architecture, woodworking, paintings, and sculptures, will have you just walking around in awe for quite a while. One piece of extreme interest to view is Galileo's Lamp. It is a replica of the lamp that hung in the exact same spot in the Cathedral when Galileo visited as a young man in the 1600s. Galileo saw the lamp swinging like a pendulum, giving him the impetus to investigate and discover the principle of isochronism and leading him on the path to become the famed historical scientist we study today. With all of its beauty, history, and things to learn and see, definitely stop in Pisa if you're in Italy. And don't only stop at the Leaning Tower, because missing the beautiful Cathedral would be a huge mistake! read more
The Cattedrale di Pisa is the centerpiece of all the buildings in the Square of Miracles, located in Pisa Italy. The have two entrances to view the inside. The Western entrance is for visitors who want to admire the ornate inside of a Roman Cathedral in its glory. Pictures and talking are not allowed during mass. The Eastern entrance can be used for worshippers for daily mass and Sunday mass. Sunday mass happens 4 times (8, 9:30, 11, 12:30). We were able to attend the 11 mass, but was late because I remembered the time wrong. The guard at the entrance still let us in. I think it was the most beautiful church we've ever celebrated mass in. The mass was in Italian, but it followed the ceremony of Vatican II, and we were able to follow along. It lasted about 45 minutes, and stayed a little afterwards to pray and contemplate. It was a wonderful part of our day. read more
Located next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the Piazza dei Miracoli. A Romanesque marble cathedral started in 1064 built in the shape of a Latin cross, with a central nave. It was completed in 1092. Additional enlargements and a new facade were built in the 12th century. The roof was replaced after damage from a fire in 1595. The interior has white and black marble, with monolithic grey marble columns. An updated wooden 17th-century coffered ceiling, painted and decorated with gold leaf, made by Domenico and Bartolomeo Atticciati. The inside of the dome, is decorated using a rare painting technique called encaustic and depicts the Virgin in glory with saints by the artists Orazio and Girolamo Riminaldi. The dome was restored from 2015 to 2018. The large mosaic of Christ between the Virgin and Saint John painted by Cimabue in 1302 miraculously survived the fire of 1595. Arrive early in the morning. At 9:30 am on a Sunday I thought the grounds and buildings were already crowded, but my driver noted- "I'm glad we arrived before the crowds and the heat. Also on Sunday morning, you won't be able to freely roam the entire church, as it is still a place of local worship and services will be held. Parking is a few blocks away. Expect to walk a bit. Wear sunscreen in the summer, it hot even at 9 am. read more
The cathedral is an example of Pisan Romanesque architecture, was designed in 1604 and shows, in its brightness, the influence of various styles and cultures: During trips to North Africa & the Middle East, Pisan sailors admired the different worlds they visited and were deeply influenced by them. The columns in the Duomo remind me of ones Id see in mosques. The cathedral was consecrated in 1118. There was a fire in 1595 in the Cathedral, many important works are still preserved. read more
I am not a religious person so I can't speak for the history of this church or any noteworthy historical snippet of information about it. All I can tell you is about the jaw dropping paintings, architecture and opulence inside of this church. Although to be frank, every time you go into a basilica in Italy you basically have the same opinion. It is amazing, it is ornate, it has intricately carved statues. I know I must sound repetitive when I use the same words and adjectives to describe each of these buildings, but really, they are all just that, amazing piece of history. I do not approve of what they represent but I can admire the art for art sake. The most amazing thing about this church full of amazing art is perhaps it's organ. I mist have stared at it for 5 solid minutes ( And to my dismay I realized after I got out of the building that I did not take a single picture of) If you have to compare notes to which of all the attractions in the Pisa square, I would have to say this basilica is by far the most beautiful and worth seeing. More so than tower. Of course the tower is the star of the show, but this church is a masterpiece on its own, and far more interesting, And this opinion is purely based on art and architecture, not in any way shape or form on it's religious aspect because like I said, I don't believe in any of the stuff, I am just here for sightseeing purposes. LOL read more
This is included with the Tower of Pisa ticket, so why not? The sign says no photos, but everyone was snapping like it was the end of the world, so I went along with it. Don't hold it against me! It's a beautiful cathedral and it's massive as well. It's pretty interesting how important religion has been in history and Europe really expresses that in the quality of its cathedral's! This is a prime exception. This is an amazing place, so if you visit the Tower of Pisa, it's included, so go for it! read more
Compared to the star, the leaning Tower of Pisa, the cathedral sits in its shadow. You'll see a herd of people attempting to pick, kick, kiss, or lean into the 'tower' in the walkway right by the cathedral. If you're in the area, I would recommend to take a few moments of serenity and walk the aisles of the cathedral. Compared to Roman cathedrals, Santa Maria Assunta seems a little diminutive till you realize that this wonderful cathedral is in the midst of a very tiny town with the same inlay flooring as St. Peters, with a wonderful gleaming golden ceiling, and art work by masters centering on the pulpit. It does hold it's own to most cathedrals especially for a smaller town. It's actually quite astonishing the amount of careful carving and artwork that went into this. We arrived during it's restoration so we couldnt see all of the ceiling or large paintings that overhang the front of the church. That doesnt take away the wonderful solemn beauty of the cathedral. Take some time away from the madness outside and enjoy the grace and beauty held inside. read more
I went for its tower but ended up loving the Duomo. Almost all, if not truly all, visitors of Pisa went for the world-famous leaning tower, but surprisingly even if there is a crowd outside to pose with the tower, very few people seem to notice the much bigger structure nearby that is also the reason for the tower's construction: the Pisa Duomo, or formally Catedrale di Santa Maria Assunta! Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the Pisa Duomo was the answer to compete against the then-reconstructing Basilica di San Marco in Venezia when both Pisa and Venezia were competing maritime powers. As a display of power, the then-powerful Pisa built this grand cathedral complex combined with the largest baptistery in modern-day Italy and of course the famous (unintentionally) leaning bell tower - right outside the city wall also as a show of confidence. The result is an uniquely beautiful cathedral that is a blend of various architectural styles from various parts of the world, like the internationalism of the then Pisan merchants. On the outside, the white facade is fantastically adorned with detailed sculptures and reliefs of many tales. Inside, it's an elegant yet ornate cathedral that is truly unlike others, especially with the beautiful striped arches that flank the sides and the Renaissance-esque ceiling that was forward of its time. Although this cathedral never matched with San Marco's extravagance because of waning Pisan power, it is nonetheless a worthy competition of beauty to the Venetian basilica in my opinion. In the end, this church was actually my favorite part of Pisa and also one of my favorites in the world, and it is a shame that only a small fraction of the tower admirers stepped inside this "hidden gem" especially when it's free. If you are already making your way to go to Pisa, why not take a step into this gorgeous cathedral? --- ADMISSION: The admission to the cathedral is free, whether you purchase admission to other sights in the Piazza or not. All you need is to get a "timed ticket" at the ticket counter in the building south of the Baptistery. The entrance is technically timed, but I don't think the door staff won't care because it's never full inside. --- HOW TO REACH PIAZZA DEI MIRACOLI (https://www.yelp.com/biz/piazza-dei-miracoli-pisa?hrid=R9FEXF6UDKph9lvD8yeWVg) The easiest train station to reach is Pisa Centrale, although the smaller Pisa S Rossore is only a 5-minute walk away from the Piazza. Centrale may be better because more and faster trains pass through it. From Roma, you can directly connect to Centrale via a 2.5-hour Frecciabianca ride. From Firenze, you can directly connect to Centrale via a 1-hr "Regionale Veloce" (1.5 on regular Regionale) ride. From Pisa Centrale, you can choose to 1) walk 20 minutes or 2) take the 10-minute LAM Rossa bus. I recommend taking the bus because the fare is only €1 with a 4-ticket carnet from any newsstand and the rest of Pisa is dull, but beware of the pickpockets. Since you have to transfer at Pisa Centrale for Cinque Terre (unless you are directly going to La Spezia from Roma), why not make a Leaning Tower stopover? --- tl;dr version: 1) The main reason why there is a Leaning Tower to begin with! 2) Uniquely beautiful cathedral that is ignored by many 3) If you're already in Pisa, why not enter for free? read more
12 years ago
There is not much to add but it's one of those places you have to see in person to appreciate. Note: You can purchase a ticket for the leaning tower and have free access to the duomo. While it can get crowded, it seems there's never really a line where you'd have to wait to get in. People are usually in and out. I have to admit I could just spend the afternoon here, there's something about the serenity and calmness that this place brings out in you. I actually favor this duomo over the one in Florence. read more
If you're at the Pisa tower, you might as well visit Duomo being as its a walking distance away. Though the Duomo is often less photographed compared to Pisa from my observation. Some people could spend hours here, whilst others only need about 10 minutes. The site itself is lovely, but it's even nicer inside. No entrance fee too! read more
As soon as you get to Pisa tower; Standing in a large green grass, this beautiful building is just beside the tower. Its a masterpiece of medieval architecture from the outside to inside. The entrance is free and you can do no flash photography. Make sure you go in as this was one of the beautiful churches I visited in Italy. read more
Amazing looking cathedral. The architect and details of this building is breath taking. I have never seen the grass so green around this church. There are even signs where it says Not to walk on the grass! There were no waiting lines when we got here. read more
13 years ago
17 years ago
A beautiful building made in different shades of marble with Byzantine and Arabic motifs set into its Romanesque architecture. The exquisitely carved 14th century pulpit is a masterpiece of medieval sculpture. I especially loved the golden ceiling, the mosaics over the high altar and the magnificent bronze doors. Altogether, something not to be missed when you're in Pisa! read more
13 years ago
11 years ago
This cathedral or Duomo is magnificent. It is amazing that building began in 1064. It stands just in front of the leaning Tower of Pisa. It is a busy tourist stop but we were able to wander around easily. read more
11 years ago
