Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia

Just behind San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno (previous upload) is the small Cappella di Sant'Agata, erected from bricks by the monks of the convent around 1063, but the first written attestation is from 1132. If the octagonal chapel with the pointed roof, would have been used as a baptistery, it would have been built opposite the main portal of the basilica - and not in the "backyard". Upto the end of WWII the Cappella di Sant'Agata was surrounded by a cloister.

Just behind San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno (previous upload) is the small Cappella di Sant'Agata, erected from bricks by the monks of the convent around 1063, but the first written attestation is from 1132. If the octagonal chapel with the pointed roof, would have been used as a baptistery, it would have been built opposite the main portal of the basilica - and not in the "backyard". Upto the end of WWII the Cappella di Sant'Agata was surrounded by a cloister.

Lunch under the arches of the Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The upper part of San Michele´s facade glows in the afternoon sun. Archaeologists unearthed the foundations of a Roman temple, where the church is today. It was mentioned as the church of a Benedictine convent in 1016 as existing "outside the city walls". From about 1110 Camaldolese monks lived here upto 1782. The marble facade with the three rows of loggias dates from the early 14th century.

"San Pietro in Vinculis" translates to "Saint Peter in Chains", though here it looks like "Saint Peter behind Cables". Remembered here is the liberation of Saint Peter (Acts 12:1-19), when Saint Peter was recued from priosn by an angel. A church, named "San Pietro ai Sette Pini" had existed here since 763, the Romanesque church seen today got erected by Augustinian canons 1172 - 1118.

Santa Caterina was mentioned for the first time, together with a hospital, in 1211. The seen today was built between 1251 and 1300, by will of St. Dominic, founder of the the Dominicans, and entrusted to the friars of his order. The façade was completed in 1326. It has small Gothic loggias and a central rose window.

Santa Caterina was mentioned for the first time, together with a hospital, in 1211. The seen today was built between 1251 and 1300, by will of St. Dominic, founder of the the Dominicans, and entrusted to the friars of his order. The nave has a wooden ceiling.

The cathedral is the heart of the Piazza del Duomo (aka "Piazza dei Miracoli"). Its construction began in 1064 and set the model for the Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. The Leaning Tower is to the right. I stayed for hours here that night.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Over the winter, the lawn has suffered, so in March the landscapers have rolled out fresh, green sod.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Over the winter, the lawn has suffered, so in March the landscapers have rolled out fresh, green sod.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Under the dome.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. A narrow staircase runs up to the gallery.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. No tourists have entered in the early morning in March. The octagonal baptismal font is in the center. To the left is the pulpit.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. The same place as before (previous upload), but in October large tourist groups are guided through the baptistry.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Standing on the surrounding gallery offers a brilliant view onto the many Romanesque carvings.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Standing on the surrounding gallery offers a brilliant view onto the many Romanesque carvings. Here are hunting scenes. To the very right a large bear (?) with two cubs. To the very left a hunter carries a huge hare. Hares must have had a certain meaning, I remember a similar one from Girona.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Standing on the surrounding gallery offers a brilliant view onto the many Romanesque carvings. Here is another hunting scnene.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. Standing on the surrounding gallery offers a brilliant view onto the many Romanesque carvings. A griffin has caught a goat.