The Campo dei Miracoli (“Field of Miracles”) is the most visited square in Pisa. This is of course mainly because of the presence of the Leaning Tower. However, there are also other attractions, including the city’s Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Camposanto and two museums.
Campo dei Miracoli Pisa
Address, opening hours and admission
Bus: 070, 071, 110, 120, 140, 190. Train: Pisa San Rossore. Opening hours: Always open. Entrance fee: Free.
History Campo dei Miracoli Pisa
The Campo dei Miracoli is actually called Piazza dei Miracoli. The name Campo dei Miracoli is somehow connected to Pinocchio, who “plants” money in the field, but this has nothing to do with the square and moreover the story is not even set in Pisa.
The name Campo (instead of “Piazza”) can be explained by the fact that a large part of the square is covered with a lawn.
Piazza dei Miracoli got its current shape in the 9th century, when the architect Alessandro Gherardesca restored the most important buildings but also demolished some less interesting constructions.
Tourist attractions Piazza dei Miracoli
The most striking building is of course the Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente) of Pisa, which for years has been tempting tourists to take funny pictures.
Next to the tower is the Duomo, the cathedral of Pisa, built in the 11th century.
The Baptistery is the round building that stands in the middle of the field. Its interior is decorated with 14th century frescoes.
The Camposanto is a walled cemetery on the north side of the square. Although construction began in the 13th century, it was only completed in the 15th century.
The former Santo Spirito Hospital now houses the Museo delle Sinopie.
A second museum on the square is the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, which is located in the building of the same name.
On the north and west side of Piazza dei Miracoli you can still see the old city walls, characterized by some towers (the Torre di Catallo and the Torre di Santa Maria) and city gates (the Porta Nuova and the Porta del Leone).
Between the tower and the Palazzo dell’Opera del Duomo there is a statue of a wolf giving milk to two children, the symbol of Pisa. Sorry, the symbol of Rome. It was placed here (but why?) in 1926 in honour of a visit by Mussolini.
The monumental vase close to the Porta di San Ranieri replaces an even more monumental version, which is however divided into parts and adorns several buildings in Pisa.
The fountain at the entrance to the square from the Via Santa Maria was designed by Giuseppe Vaccà and Giovanni Antonio Cybe.