We arrived in Livorno early in the morning. Ricky wasn't feeling well enough to get out and explore, so I joined our group about 8:30 am to drive into Pisa.
Livorno was established in 1017 and became an important port during the Renaissance.
The Medici family's control extended throughout Tuscany.
Livorno has been called "little Venice" due to the number of canals.
Driving past old walls
Fortezza Vecchia. This old fortress was built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier keep built in the 11th century. It is located at the Medicean Darsena, the old dock built by the Medici family.
The driver parked the bus and we had a 20 minute walk to our destination. Here we are on Via Leonardo da Vinci.
We met up with our local guide just outside all the city walls.
We walked past many souvenir stands jammed up next to the walls.
We walked through this gate onto the Square of Miracles, so called because of sheer amount of masterpieces it hosts. It is also known as the Piazza del Duomo.
Pisa Cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Built 1063-1092. This is a majestic and imposing building.
Marble sidewalk approaching the entrance
The building is carved with ornate details.
Peter and Paul grace the front corners standing on gargoyle water spouts.
Note the purple column on the top row, third from the right. Our guide said it came from a temple in Egypt. I didn't fact check her.
Carved front doors. It was very crowded which made it impossible to get an unobstructed picture.
I'm standing near the entrance. You can see the building is built on a grand scale.
Large works of art lined the walls.
Pulpit (with unhappy random traveler photobombing.)
This chandelier is the legendary Galileo's lamp. However the real one is much smaller.
Looking up at the ceiling
Gold ceiling
Porta Sancta
View of the cathedral from the back.
The Baptistery of St. John faces the Cathedral. Constructed 1152-1363 of Carrara marble. The dome is covered with lead sheets on the east and red tiles on the west.
Notice the ornate carving around the doors.
The inside is relatively plain. The octagonal font was built in 1246. The statue in the middle is John the Baptist.
The Pulpit was carved 1255-1260.
Looking up at the dome. The acoustics in this building were crazy loud.
This picture best captured the lean of the campanile, or bell tower.
The tower started to lean during construction in the 12th century due to the soft nature of the ground. Remedial work was done in modern times which helped correct the lean to 4 degrees. It has 296 steps (which I did not climb!)
Of all the majestic buildings in this square, I spent the most time in the Campsanto. It captured me.
The rectangular building is lined with frescoes and ancient Roman sarcophogi on the walls.
The floor is completely paved with tombs.
This artwork caught my eye because it looks like the Toland crest.
In 1944 a bomb fragment started a fire which damaged everything. The have worked to restore as much as possible.
I guess the more important the person, the more elaborate their monument.
This statue marks the final resting place of Leonardo Fibonacci.
Words of wisdom from the great beyond.
This sculpture depicted stately repose.
This fresco seemed really different.
A real skull and crossbones symbol!
The symbolism was fantastic
One of the side chapels
This is Galileo's lamp that he used to work on his calculations of isochronism and pendulum movement. It is hanging in the Aulla chapel. There were no signs or protective measures around it. I had to ask two people to help me find it.
Alter in the chapel
I assume these are the chains of suffering, finally hung up on the wall.
After our free time was over, we made the long walk in the sun back to the bus.
I spotted these two old planes on the walk. Anyone with Air Force experience who might help identify?
Our guide maintained the people of Livorno hate the people of Pisa because they got the IKEA.
Field of sunflowers
Umbrella pines
We passed a military base that seemed to be used for storage.
Lighthouse in the port
The chef made bean stew. I am getting really hungry for a pot of red beans!
Two kinds of pie! Blueberry cheesecake and cookies and cream. (I did a LOT of walking today. 😉)
More old walls
It was already very hot even early in the morning.
Mosaic above the center door depicting the Virgin Mary.
I believe this is the framgentary tomb of Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor. Sculpted between 1313 and 1315.
This Islamic griffin on top of the column on top of the apse is the largest medieval Islamic metal sculpture known, over 3 feet tall. According to Wikipedia it is the most beautiful and important example of monumental zoomorphic bronze in Islamic art.
This statue is titled Fallen Angel and was sculpted by Igor Mitoraj in 2012.
If you look closely, you can tell it is leaning.
It was purportedly built around a shipload of soil from Golgotha brought to Pisa during the 3rd Crusade by the archbishop of Pisa in the 12th century.
This is a Gothic cloister built on top of the ruins of the old baptistery of the church of Santa Reparata.
We thought these two ships would collide, but it was a near miss. The crew's ability to manuver these large ships is amazing.
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