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.