PICTURES FROM ITALY (Est. 2001)
  • Private Tours
    • Private Tours of Rome
    • Private Tours of Florence
    • Private Tours of Venice
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Tuscany
  • Gallery
  • Year in Art
Private Walking Tours of Rome, Florence & Venice

Pisa: Santa Maria Assunta

23/7/2019

 
Santa Maria Assunta, Cathedral, Pisa
Santa Maria Assunta

The beautiful 11th century Romanesque church of Santa Maria Assunta is the cathedral of Pisa. 

In 1063, after a victory of the Pisan fleet at Palermo, Buschetto di Giovanni Giudice was given the task of constructing the cathedral. Pope Gelasius II (r. 1118-19) was present at its consecration on September 26th, 1118. Its façade was completed a century later by one Rainaldo, a native of Pisa, who left an inscription, Rainaldus prudens operator, above the central door.

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Assumption (Santa Maria Assunta), Pisa's cathedral is one of the most celebrated examples of what is known as the Pisan-Romanesque style. 

In 1595 the cathedral was seriously damaged by fire and, between 1602 and 1616, much of the interior was rebuilt. 

Thankfully, the fire didn't destroy the medieval bronze doors of the Porta di San Ranieri, or the famous Islamic griffin, both of which have been now been replaced by copies. The doors are located in the south transept, while the griffin stands atop the east end of the cathedral. The originals are on display in the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo. 

Santa Maria Assunta, Duomo of Pisa
Santa Maria Assunta

Comments are closed.

    Blogging about Tuscany


    ​My name is David Lown and I am an art historian 
    from Cambridge, England.

    Since 200I I have been living in Italy, where I run
    ​ private tours of Florence, Rome &
    Venice.


    Search Pictures From Italy:

    Blog Posts

    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019


Follow Pictures From Italy on Facebook

Private Tours of Rome, Florence & Venice

Copyright © David Lown 2001-2019. All Rights Reserved. 
  • Private Tours
    • Private Tours of Rome
    • Private Tours of Florence
    • Private Tours of Venice
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Tuscany
  • Gallery
  • Year in Art