Piazza del Duomo

In this square, crossed every day by people from all over the world , and where a thousand different languages can be heard while walking, ever since its inception has been a symbol of the union of different peoples. All the monuments in Piazza del Duomo are in Pisan-Romanesque style, some, like the Baptistery, had a later evolution towards the Gothic style. What is Pisan Romanesque characterized by? The style was born here, with the Cathedral of Buscheto in 1064, and is recognizable by the mix of several styles: chromatic alternation of marble surfaces; the insertion of 'arabesque' decorative elements, such as marble inlays, or geometric inlays of different marbles; filling the blind arches with lozenges; and finally a crowning, on three levels in this case, of walkable loggias, of Lombard style. Pisa, as a Maritime Republic, had the opportunity to travel all over the Mediterranean creating exchanges, not only of goods, but also of ideas, cultures, and people... this led to the creation of a new style for the time, which then spread into the other monuments of the square, in other churches of Pisa, but also in other cities: you will find the Pisan-Romanesque style in Lucca, Siena... and in Sardinia, one of the islands conquered by Pisa. Another example of these cultural exchanges is represented by the Griffin: the original bronze sculpture (dated 11th century) is kept in the Museo dell’Opera della Primaziale, a copy can be found on the top of the Cathedral. It is an Islamic manufactured item, probably born as a perfume burner, that become a war trophy of the Maritime Republic. The Kufic characters decorate the exterior of the Griffin and say, 'perfect blessing, complete well-being, perfect joy, eternal peace and perfect health, happiness and good fortune for the owner'.