Google Map To Pisa, Italy.

Google Map To The Piazza del Duomo
& The Leaning Tower Of Pisa.

The Piazza del Duomo or "Cathedral Square" is a wide, walled area at the heart of the city of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. It is dominated by four great religious edifices: the Duomo, the Leaning Tower (the cathedral's campanile), the Baptistry, and the Camposanto. The Piazza del Duomo is called the Piazza dei Miracoli or "Square of Miracles". The Italian writer and poet, Gabriele d'Annunzio, in his novel, Forse che si forse che no, gave it this name. The Piazza del Duomo was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. THE HISTORY OF PISA: Originally an Etruscan settlement, then a Roman city, a medieval commercial harbor, a powerful Maritime Republic, an enemy of Genoa, Lucca and Florence, a magnificent city in the 17th century, a host town for artists in the 19th century, a University town in the last few hundred years, and home to some of the most prestigious Academies in the world: this makes up a brief history of Pisa. The area was first settled by the Liguri and was then inhabited by the Etruscans. Pisa's growth into a city arrived with the Roman era. At that time, Pisa was a small coastal town but a very important Roman port. Pisa is divided into two parts by the River Arno, which flows through Florence, and then flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea at Marina di Pisa. Nowdays the coast is about 12km away, since debris from the river blocked up its watercourse downstream and moved the coastline further away. However, "Pisa" remained important as a shipbuilding center to this day. "Darsena Pisana", the Pisan Dock, still is important to the local economy and it can be seen from the highway about 1 km from Pisa's Galileo Galilei International Airport. During the Early Middle Ages, Pisa was a very important port and commercial center. It also was one of the four Maritime Republics ( the other three were Amalfi, Venice and Genoa ), which fought for control of the Mediterranean Sea. This was a time of both war victories and wealth for the city, which had colonies all over the Mediterranean coasts and was not only feared but respected. This time of Pisa's history is celebrated each year with a Regatta. The Regata delle Repubbliche Marinare, is held in Pisa every four years in June. Pisa declined in power and wealth during the 13th century. It's conflicts with Genoa, resulted in a defeat during the battle of the Meloria (1268), which was the beginning of Pisa's loss as a maritime power. During the same time period, conflicts with the Guelph cities in Tuscany began, along with internal struggles for the control of Pisa. One of the most natorious persons in the history of Pisa is Count Ugolino della Gerardesca, who is described in Dante's Divina Commedia. Even though he was accused of treachery at the Meloria battle, at few years later he became Lord of Pisa. Then in 1289, the Archbishop ordered his imprisonment in the Gualandi Tower with his children and grandchildren and left there to starve. Local legend says that he ate his children and grandchildren. During the 14th century, Pisa continued to suffer battles and revolts. On October 9th 1406, the hated Florentine army entered the city and Pisa was placed under the rule of Florence until 1861. In the 18th, 19th 20th and 21st centuries Pisa continued to grow with its grand University, which is one of the most prestigious in Italy and in all of Europe. Pisa was almost destroyed by bombing during World War II, but it is now being restored and brought back to its glory. We were there in August of 1999.

"Piazza dei Miracoli" The Cathedral Square	The Cathedral Construction Started In 1063 A. D.
The Leaning Tower	Cathedral Square From The New Gate
Bottom Of Leaning Tower It Began Leaning With The Addition Of The Third Story In 1174 A. D.	Audrey At The Cathedral
The Tower Isn't The Only Leaning Structure	The Cathedral Dome
George & The Leaning Tower	Audrey & The Leaning Tower
Audrey & The Leaning Tower	Audrey & The Leaning Tower