When we talk about the Pisan Romanesque, we are referring to the architectural style that developed at the end of the 10th century and that spread mainly during the glorious period of the Pisa Maritime Republic. Everything began in Piazza del Duomo, with the construction of the Cathedral and the Baptistery. This style then spread throughout Tuscany, as well as in Corsica and Sardinia.
The itinerary starts from Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Pisan Romanesque style is at its most splendid. The Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Camposanto Monumentale represent true masterpieces whose position is symbolic in terms of Christian religion and astrology, arranged in the shape of the constellation of Aries and the cycle of human life from birth to death.
Other examples in the city of the same style can be found in the churches of Santa Caterina, San Sisto, San Nicola, San Michele in Borgo, San Pietro in Vinculis, San Matteo in Soarta, San Michele degli Scalzi, Santo Sepolcro and San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno (the latter considered another Pisan Romanesque masterpiece).
Moving towards Marina di Pisa, we find ourselves in front of the majestic Basilica of San Piero a Grado. It's said that St. Peter landed here in 44 A.D. while on his way to Rome. The 11th century Romanesque structure is without a façade and preserves magnificent frescoes inside which detail the stories of Saints Peter and Paul as well as the figures of the first Popes.
The third stage takes us to Cascina, once famous for the manufacture of furniture. Here, you can find the Parish Church of San Giovanni and Santa Maria Assunta, while in the nearby town of San Casciano the Parish Church of SS Cassiano and Giovanni is located. It is upon this church that the great sculptor Biduino worked, creating one of the greatest examples of the Pisan Romanesque. He is behind the architrave of the central portal, depicting scenes from the Gospel.
Crossing the bridge over the Arno river, we reach Vicopisano. Here, we can admire the parish church of Santa Maria (12th century), which preserves part of a cycle of frescoes from the 13th century as well as the wooden sculpture of the Deposition of the Cross.
On the road to Calci, a very charming sight appears before us. Built in the 11th century and subsequently enlarged, the Parish Church of Santa Giulia looks towards the Caprona Tower (also known as the Torre degli Uppezzinghi). The tower stands on a rocky spur from which it dominates the landscape below. It's a 19th century copy of the historic castle that existed in the middle of the 11th century; Dante Alighieri also participated in the siege upon it. The episode is mentioned by the Supreme Poet in the lines of the Divine Comedy.
Not far from the Certosa di Calci, we find the Parish Church of Santi Giovanni Avangelista ed Ermolao, which preserves the remains of the martyr Ermolao, Patron of the Val Graziosa. Its bell tower, that remains unfinished, was used as a military watchtower.
A curiosity: its facade is asymmetrical. This is because it was enlarged shortly after the building of the parish church - which took place approximately 1095 - in order to cover the chapel that housed the baptismal font.
