The town of Pisa is of Etruscan origin. In 179 B.C. it became a Roman colony and in 89 B.C. a Roman municipium. Pisa was an important naval base for the Romans. In the Middle Ages it was an important port, just like Venice, Genoa and Amalfi. Each of these towns had both a merchant fleet and a navy, which controlled all the seas around Italy. Pisa reached its greatest peak of power in the 11th and 12 centuries when it expanded its power over the islands of Corsica, Sicily and Sardinia. In addition, it controlled the Tuscan coast from Portovenere to Civitavecchia. During the first Crusade from 1096 to 1099 its military and commercial power expanded eastwards and during the 12th century some colonies were founded along the same routes followed by the Crusaders. At this time some small industries developed in Pisa, especially those involved in the processing of wool and leather. In 1162 Pisa became a free commune with its own statutes, and it was in this period that a new architectural style was born. From the 11th to the 14th century the arts, and especially architecture, flourished. Some wonderful buildings were erected, such as the Cathedral, with the contribution of great artists. One of these artists was Nicola Pisano, the greatest Italian Gothic sculptor, who started a school that influenced all the Italian sculpture of that period. In 1284 Pisa was defeated by Genoa in the Battle of Meloria and so a period of decline began, which terminated with the subjection of the town to Florence.

Under the Florentine rule of Lorenzo il Magnifico, the town knew a new period of influence and the urban landscape underwent important transformations. Wonderful buildings in the Renaissance style were erected and in 1472 the University was founded. In this university Galileo Galilei taught Physics, thus starting an important scientific tradition that still continues in Pisa today. At the end of the 19th century the town extended outside the boundary of the old town-walls. Pisa suffered from great damages during World War II. The quarter south of the river Arno was completely destroyed. Most of the urban shape of the town, as we see it today, is due to recent development.

The Leaning Tower

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most famous and easily recognizable landmarks in Italy. Meant to be the bell tower of the Duomo of Pisa, its construction began in 1173 and, with a couple of long interruptions, took about two centuries to complete. Its famous inclination is caused by the interaction of the edifice with the soil upon which it is built. Throughout the centuries, various attempts have been made to halt the slow tilting of the tower, including the use of counterweights. The tower was closed in 1990 because of the danger posed by the continuing tilt, but reopened in 2001.

Galileo is said to have proven that objects of different weights drop at the same rate by dropping a cannon ball and a wooden ball from the top of the Leaning Tower. Many scholars think that the story is apocryphal, however.

Climbing the tower is quite an experience. As one climbs the Tower, the one moment the steps of this Tower are leaning towards the inside and a half revolution further they are leaning towards the outside. So one needs to adapt your search for the right balance every half revolution one makes on the spiral stairs. The view, however, makes the climb worth while. There is a great view over the Campo dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles, with in front the Cathedral or Duomo and in the back the Baptistery and at the right the Campo Santo or the cemetery.

The Duomo

The Duomo of Pisa is the largest Romanesque cathedral in Tuscany. It's famous for the Romanesque panels depicting the life of Christ on the transept door facing the tower and for its expertly carved 14th-century pulpit by Giovanni Pisano. The upper part of the pulpit consists of nine panels illustrating stories from the New Testament. The lower part is largely composed of allegorical figures representing the virtues and credos of the Catholic faith. The wall of the Duomo itself is made of pink and white marble. The inside is held up by 68 Corinthian columns. Midway down the nave hangs a special bronze lamp. It is commonly known as Galilieo's lamp, since it is believed that the great scientist Galileo Galilei figured out the law of the pendulum by observing the lamp as it swung back and forth. Also note the mosaics above the apse. The mosaics show the Christ in Majesty and Jesus Christ between the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist. These mosaics were completed by Cimabue in 1302.

The Baptistery

Except for the stupendous baptismal font and a beautiful pulpit, there isn't that much to see inside the Baptistery. In the center of the building stands the octagonal baptismal font which was sculpted in 1246. In the old days, the children and adults were immersed in the huge central basin. Nowadays, the font is still used but the modern rite calls for sprinkling. In the middle of the font stands the statue of St. John the Baptist. The pulpit was designed by Nicola Pisano in 1260. It is built in a Gothic style. The pulpit is decorated very richly; notice the pillars which are resting on elephants, the panels on the pulpit with scenes of Jesus Christ's life, like the crucifixion and the last judgment.

A great view of the font and the rest of the interior of the Baptistery can be had be climbing up to the second floor gallery. One other thing that one shouldn't miss, however, is the Baptistery guard demonstrating how the perfectly round shape of the dome produces beautiful acoustical effects.

The Cemetery

Nearby the Duomo, the Baptistery, and the Tower is the monumental cemetery called Campo Santo. Here, even today, the most-deserving and best-known Pisans are buried. It was designed by Giovanni di Simoni in 1278. The mostly Roman sculptures on the tombs are interesting, but the frescoes of Hell are totally over the top, full of devils and other horrors. They date from the 14th and 15th centuries and are quite a change from the thousands of Madonna and Child depictions that exist all over Italy. Here are the Triumph of Death, Hell, and the Last Judgment. The frescoes have been detached from their original location and put in an indoor gallery, to protect them from further erosion from the elements.

Visiting Pisa

Pisa is about an hour away from Florence by road or rail. The major sights are within easy walking distance from one another.