Pisa's Field of Miracles

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 (Part 4)

I am very glad that we decided to stop in Pisa. It was a bit of a last minute decision for us. We drove from the southern end of the city to the Cathedral/Tower complex -- located in the "Field of Miracles" -- and this allowed us to get a good feel for

the city. The Arno River runs through the city and, like Florence, the city is built up on both sides of the river. It is a very

pretty scene.

The Cathedral complex is unique from that found in most other Italian cities because it is removed from the center of town and has a more open sense of space. And there are even grass fields surrounding the Baptistry and Cathedral and that is unique. Also, the exterior of the buildings are a gleaming white marble. They

just about sparkle in the sunlight and today was a very sunny day.

We went into the Baptistry first. The Baptistry, like most baptistries, is a very simple building. It is round in shape and has only an altar, pulpit and baptismal font/basin. This Baptistry is somewhat unique because sounds echo beautifully within the domed ceiling. While we were there, the guard demonstrated by singing a series of notes. They echoed for several long seconds as they bounced off the walls. It was pretty neat -- and it was something Dad felt compelled to copy! He sounded good too.