Duomo

Construction of Pisa’s Cathedral began in 1063 and continued until the 13th century, when the main facade was added. The elliptical dome, the first of its kind in Europe, dates from 1380. The building’s striking cladding of alternating bands of green and cream marble became the blueprint for Romanesque churches throughout Tuscany.

The cathedral was the largest in Europe when it was constructed, its breathtaking proportions designed to demonstrate Pisa’s domination of the Mediterranean. The main facade has four exquisite tiers of columns diminishing skywards, while the vast interior is propped up by 68 hefty granite columns. The wooden ceiling decorated with 24-carat gold is a legacy from the period of Medici rule of the city.

Inside, don’t miss the extraordinary early 14th-century octagonal pulpit in the north aisle. Sculpted from Carrara marble by Giovanni Pisano and featuring nude and heroic figures, its depth of detail and heightening of feeling brought a new pictorial expressionism and life to Gothic sculpture. Pisano’s work forms a striking contrast to the modern pulpit and altar by Italian sculptor Giuliano Vangi, which were controversially installed in 2001.