"Pisa Cathedral Complex"

The cathedral's  architecture includes various stylistic elements: classical, Lombard-Emilian, Byzantine, and Islamic, which reflects the international presence of Pisan merchants at the time. This new style was called ‘Pisan Romanesque’.  In 1118 the cathedral was enlarged, with three nave bays being added as well as a new façade. Afterwards, it maintained the title of biggest Cathedral in Europe for almost a century. Other enlargements were made until the 14th century.

Improvements occurred after the fire of 1595, including a full roof replacement. In the early 18th century, the inside walls of the cathedral were redecorated with paintings depicting the stories of the blesseds and saints of Pisa.

The exterior is particularly famous, with exquisite marble Islamic-style arches being so well-worked that they almost look like embroidery. The famous bronze doors were made by Florentine artists in the 17th century after the wooden doors were destroyed by fire in 1595.

One of the most famous pieces inside is Giovanni Pisano’s masterpiece marble pulpit, as well as Byzantine-style mosaics, a golden ceiling, and 68 monolithic columns brought from Sardinia.

In the 16th century, a 19-year-old Galileo made a particularly important discovery inside Pisa Cathedral. The movement of the cathedral’s chandelier inspired his theory of isochronism of small oscillations. The complex further contributed to the history of science by acting as a forum for some of his experiments.