The Cattedrale di Pisa, Pisa, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The Cattedrale di Pisa, also known as the Duomo, is the medieval cathedral of Pisa, standing on Piazza dei Miracoli next to the Baptistery and the Leaning Tower, which is its bell tower. Begun in 1063, it is a landmark of Pisan Romanesque architecture, built in pale marble and paid for by the power of a maritime republic. The whole square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The story behind it

Construction began in 1063 and the cathedral was consecrated in 1118. It was funded largely by the spoils of Pisa's naval campaigns, when the city was one of the strongest sea powers in the Mediterranean. The result was a church meant to show Pisa's wealth to anyone arriving by land or sea. In 1595 a fire destroyed the original roof and much of the medieval interior, and the building was restored afterwards. Giovanni Pisano's carved pulpit, made around 1300, can still be seen inside.

Local tradition has a more colourful explanation for the small dark marks on the marble: they are said to be the fingernail scratches of a devil, driven off by an angel as he tried to pull the cathedral down. Beside the cathedral, the Baptistery was begun in 1152 and is the largest in Italy. Its lower part is Romanesque and its upper part Gothic, and it has a double dome that gives the interior remarkable acoustics. Tradition also says the nearby Campo Santo cemetery was filled with soil carried by ship from Golgotha.

What to look for

• The facade is built of rows of small marble arcades stacked in tiers, a signature of the Pisan Romanesque style.
• Look closely at the marble for the small dark marks that the legend blames on the devil's fingernails.
• Inside, find Giovanni Pisano's pulpit, covered in carved scenes and one of the great works to survive the fire of 1595.
• Step into the Baptistery to hear its acoustics, which attendants demonstrate by singing a few notes under the dome.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 to 45 minutes for the cathedral and more if you also visit the Baptistery, the Campo Santo and the tower.
• Early morning or late afternoon is calmer and the light on the marble is softer.
• Entry rules and ticketing for the cathedral, Baptistery and tower change, so check current opening hours and tickets before you go.
• The medieval wall runs along the edge of the square, and the streets towards the old centre are a pleasant way to continue on foot.

See it on a quest

Pisa Highlights: The 7 Wonders of the City passes the cathedral as one stop on a longer walk through the city. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Romantic Walk in Pisa is a gentler way to take in the cathedral and its surroundings. You walk from place to place at your own pace, hear the story of each stop and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.