Leaning Into Pisan Structures


            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/.

5 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. I 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!

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  3. I 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.

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  4. I 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.

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  5. I 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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Medieval University

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Italy, 1400

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