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Camposanto

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kylebarber
kylebarber
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Camposanto

  • August 22, 2004
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Tolik from Tampa, Florida
Camposanto

You will find the Camposanto on the northwest side of the Campo dei Miracoli, to the north of the cathedral. Approaching you will see some blind arches and two simple portals. From outside the Camposanto has almost no decorations at all, with only one great exception - the sculptures on the top of the entrance door to the Camposanto. The sculptural group depicts the Virgin and Child with Saints and a kneeling figure, probably the 14th century work of artists of the circle of Giovanni Pisano. Inside the Camposanto, in a side room visitors find a small museum - the Museo del Camposanto Vecchio. The marble-walled cemetery which looks like a church without roof, was designed by Giovanny di Simone, started in 1278 and completed in the 15th century. The cemetery was called the Camposanto (Holy Field) for reason. During the Crusades, the Pisans imported 50 ships filled with earth from Calvary for the cemetery. The soil, it was claimed, could rot down a corpse to a skeleton in less than 24 hours. In walls of the cloisters were covered with frescoes; many frescoes were damaged during World War II. Among surviving images are frescoes Ghirlandaio, Lomi, Guidotti. The most famous is probably the Triumph of Death - it was a popular topic in the 14th century because of the plague that swiped through Europe. The cemetery is worth visit for its endless tombs. Some of the tombs were decorated with antique sculptures and monuments dating back to the Roman times.

From journal Leaning Tower & Co

Editor Pick

Composanto

  • December 11, 2000
  • Rated 2 of 5 by kylebarber from Seattle, Washington
A number of local legends surround this mysterious cemetery. Supposedly it contains dirt that had been secretly imported from the site of Jesus' crucifixion. Pisan nobles were determined to be buried with the royal treatment. They also felt comfortable using ancient Roman coffins for their own use, making it necessary to dump out the previous occupants' remains.

The main reason that people would visit this large building, however, is that it contained some beautiful fresco work by Taddeo and others. Almost all of that was destroyed by bombing in the second World War, leaving behind just fragments of what was once a classic relic from the past.

From journal Italy: Pisa

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