Pisa Cathedral, Cathedral in Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa, Italy
Pisa Cathedral is a Romanesque episcopal church on Piazza dei Miracoli in Tuscany, its outer walls showing horizontal stripes of white and black marble. Five aisles stretch between massive granite columns from the Elba mountains, crossing a three-aisle transept.
Construction began in 1063 to celebrate a naval victory over Muslim fleets, following plans by architect Buscheto. The elliptical dome arose in 1380 after a fire, replacing an earlier wooden structure from the 12th century.
Marian images decorate numerous side chapels, where worshippers light candles and pray following centuries-old tradition. The main altar displays a crucifix surrounded by saint figures, while side altars remain dedicated to individual patron saints.
Entry operates through a timed reservation system allowing a limited number of visitors inside simultaneously. Multiple daily services in Italian take place, during which some areas remain inaccessible to visitors.
A mosaic by Cimabue from 1302 covers the apse vault showing Christ between Mary and John. The dome shape became the first elliptical dome in Europe, a technical experiment for building practices of that time.
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