 The
piazza del Duomo or Cathedral Square in Pisa is one of the most
well known squares in the world. It is also known as the Field of
Miracles for its extraordinary and monumental beauty amidst a vast
green space. It is the ecclesiastical center within the northern
walls of the city.
It houses four famous masterpieces of medieval architecture. They
include the Duomo (the Cathedral), the Baptistry (the Baptistery)
the Campanile (the Leaning Tower) and the Camposanto (the Cemetery).
 Perhaps
the most well-known and recognized monument in this piazza is the
Leaning Tower. It is not only famous for its characteristic tilt
but also for the beauty of its architecture. It is also called the
Bell Tower. In 1173 Bonanno began construction of this unique Bell
Tower. There was a halt in construction when the third floor began
tilting. However Tommaso di Andrea Pisano completed the Leaning
Tower in the second half of the fourteenth century when three more
floors and the Bell Tower were added.  By
now the tilt was already 143cm. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is about
fifty-six metres in height and has a vertical inclination of about
four metres. It is circular in shape and is entirely covered in
white marble. There is a spiral staircase within which has two hundred
and ninety four steps. It is located behind the cathedral.
The Duomo or the Cathedral is one of the prime examples of fusion
of many styles resulting in a monumental edifice, which is admired
by all. It is a major expression of Pisa Roman style with a blend
of classical, Byzantine, Arabian and Nordic influences.
 In
1064 Buscheto began its construction and Rinaldo finally completed
it in the twelfth century. The façade is of white limestone
with arches at the lower level and at the upper levels there are
four levels of loggias decorated with sculptures and carvings. The
bronze doorways belong to the seventeenth century. Stories of the
Virgin Mary and Christ are depicted in bas- relief. The door of
San Ranieri is on the side near the Bell Tower. It has forged bronze
pieces sculpted by Bonanno Pisano in 1180.  The
interior with its five naves is in the shape of a grand oval dome.
The main altar is by Giambologna, the mosaic in the apse is by Cimbaue
and the pulpit is a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art by Giovanni
Pisano. There are beautiful paintings of immeasurable value by Beccafumi,
Ghirlandaio, Andrea del Sarto and Sodoma. The lamp used by the famous
scientist Galileo Galilei to determine important laws of physics
hangs in the apse.
 The
elegant baptistery rises in front of the Duomo. It is built on a
circular plan with an imposing pyramidal dome. In 1152 Diotisalvi
began its construction. Nicola and Giovanni Pisano continued working
on it during the thirteenth century. It was completed in the fourteenth
century. It has a base with arches surmounted by a loggia mounted
on columns. There are four ornately decorated doorways, which lead
to the interior. In 1264 Bigarelli created the baptismal font. In
1260 Nicola Pisano designed the hexagonal pulpit. This is a perfect
example of Romanesque and Tuscan sculpture.
 The
monumental cemetery is at the west of the square. Giovanni di Simone
began its construction in the twelve hundreds. The exterior consists
of a vast marble arcade with blind arches. In the interior of the
cemetery there is an enviable collection of Roman, Medieval and
Renaissance antiquities in the form of tombs, monuments, sculptures
and detached frescoes.
Nowhere else in Italy have the key buildings of the city been laid
with such precision and nowhere else is there such an amazing contrast
of stonework and open meadow. However the highly unstable sandy
soil makes it imperative to preserve these monuments for posterity.
This is one of the reasons why the piazza has been declared as a
UNESCO heritage from 1987.
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