Pisa,
Italy is a distinguished city, one which has been inhabited for a significant
period of time. It is also a Medieval city; some of the most identifiable
features of the city were to come into being during the Medieval period. First
and foremost among these would be the bell tower for the city, more commonly
known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or the Tower of Pisa. This tower is widely
known across the world for the angle at which it leans, but it is not the only
remarkable structure that Medieval Pisa produced. The bell tower was built as
part of the cathedral complex for the city, which had several other remarkable
structures, such as the Pisan Cathedral. Each of these structures is a
remarkable example of Romanesque architecture, but the Cathedral especially is
an interesting subject; it incorporates architectural traces from several
different styles, such as: Byzantine, classical, and even Islamic architecture.
The Cathedral complex is truly a symbol for Medieval
Pisa: it serves as a representation of the establishment of Pisa as a
community, and as a symbol of Pisan power at this time. The resources required
to build such impressive structures would have been vast, requiring a complex
economic structure to produce all of the specialists needed to achieve such a
task (architects, carpenters, stonemasons, artists, etc.). This complex also
displays the influence of Pisa. It required goods from around the globe, and
incorporated elements from peoples that inhabited varying regions. This
reflected the reach of Pisa’s merchants, the bedrock of the City’s splendor.
Great
works such as the Pisan Cathedral Complex reflect the greater consolidation and
pride that Medieval Europe began to see beginning in the 12th
century.
References:
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Leaning Tower of
Pisa.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa.
“Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts.” Leaning Tower of Pisa, http://www.towerofpisa.org/leaning-tower-of-pisa-facts/.
When looking at Pisa, it is easy to forget that it is very medieval city. When most people think of Pisa, they think only of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is easy to forget about the other buildings, so it is good to point out these lesser known structures.
ReplyDeleteI love how you brought up the use of Romanesque architecture in Pisa. You also pointed out the wealth that Pisa grew to have through merchants and the reach that Pisa had throughout the world. Very good job at bringing the class discussions to the blog!
ReplyDeleteI obviously know about the leaning tower of Pisa, but I didn't know much about the medieval background behind it and the other structures in Pisa. I'm especially interested in how the Pisan Cathedral incorporates many different ancient styles as well as the fact that the tower was originally a bell tower.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was part of a complex. That is incredibly interesting. So is the fact that it was made out of goods from other places, reflecting the reach of the merchants.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Pisa this summer and it was beautiful! of course the main attraction is the leaning tower but I assure you there are other beautiful medieval buildings around the city center. The city is also enclosed by a wall that used to be a defense mechanism in the past. Definitely a place to visit if you decide to travel to Italy.
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