The San Nicola Church is an ancient church in the Via Santa Maria in Pisa. The church is close to the Museo di Palazzo Reale, on the north side of the river Arno. Highlights are the slanting bell tower and a wooden “Madonna and Child” by Nicolo Pisani.
A brief history of the church of San Nicola in Pisa
Very little remains of the original 8th century Romanesque Church of San Nicola. Toward the end of the 13th century, the Augustinian Order had the church enlarged. Its aspect changed further between the 14th and 17th centuries.
The church is thought to have been designed by either Nicola Pisani or Diotisalvi.
The most striking element of the church is the beautiful bell tower. The lower part of the tower is round, the central part octagonal and the cell in which the bells are kept hexagonal. According to established Pisan custom the tower has a slight slant. The entrance to the tower is in the sacristy. The campanile was designed by Nicola Pisani and was added toward teh middle of the 13th century.
The side chapels and the vault were added in 1572.
What to see
At the entrance of the church, which is dedicated to Nicholas of Tolentino, stands a large crucifix.
According to Pietro Armienti, a professor at the University of Pisa, the symbols making up the design of the lunetta crowning the portal are a reference to the mathematical sequence known as the Fibonacci numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55…, whereby each number is the sum of the two numbers preceding it.
Interior
The tondo “Madonna and Child” in the first chapel on the left was the work of Andrea Guardi and dates from the mid-15th century.
Giovanni Bilivert painted the “Annunciation” (1611) in the second chapel on the left.
The third chapel on the left is one of the highlights, thanks to a polychrome wooden “Madonna and Child”, sculpted by Nicola Pisani (14th century). Giovanni Stefano Maruscelli painted the “Coronation of the Virgin” (early 17th century) and Domenico Bonagiunti was responsible for the “Madonna and Saints” (1582), in the same chapel. The latter was repainted twice, both times by Maruscelli. The “Assumption” is attributed to Francesco Curradi.
Giovanni Pisani was responsible for the polychrome wooden crucifix at the altar to the left of the main altar. There are also several relics in this chapel.
The main altar dates back to the 18th century, but was renovated in 1830. The choir contains a “Madonna and Saints” by Aurelio Lomi (1595) and “Madonna in Glory with St. Nicholas of Bari”. The latter is attributed to Agostino Verracini.
The 4th chapel on the right contains an early 15th century painting depicting “St. Nicholas of Tolentino protecting Pisa from the plague”, by an anonymous painter. The icon in this chapel was painted by an unknown artist.
In the 2nd chapel is a “San Carlo Borromeo in front of the Crucifix”, by Giovanni Bilivert (1612).
Francesco Traini made the mid-14th century “Madonna delle Grazie” in the first chapel.
Francesco di Valdambrino sculpted the “Madonna Annunziata” next to the altar.
Address, opening times and entrance fee
Address: Via Santa Maria, 2 – Pisa. Telephone: Not known. Opening Hours: 09.00 to 12.30 and 17.00 to 19.00. Entrance fee: Free of charge. (NB: Due to the Covid crisis, opening hours may differ from the ones indicated.)
San Nicola Church Pisa
Bibliography
Bertini, Luca, Pisa itinerari. Guida alla visita della città .
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