Pisa, province capital in central Italy, at the Arno, 103,000 residents, romanesque cathedral with the leaning tower and baptistry with plastics of the Pisanos, Campo Santo (cemetery, 1278-1463 with fresci of tuscan painters), seat of the archbishop, university (since 12th c.). Economics: textiles, porcelain, aircraft industry. In the antiquity and in the high Middle Ages very important port; now the sea is 11 km distant.
 
 

At the cathedral square from Pisa are beside the important Duomo, the baptistry, and the walled in cemetery "Campo Santo" the famous landmark of the city: the Torre Pendente, the leaning tower of Pisa. Not long after commencement of construction 1173 the tower which stands on swampy ground began to lean to one side. Despite numerous attempts, to stop the progressive inclination the 56 meters high tower today is shifted 4.50 meters from the vertical axle. Because of its unsafeness it is closed since 1990 for the public. The architectural style of the cathedral with 5 naves was pointing the way for many tuscan churches. The 1063 begun church was the first place of worship on cross-shaped sketch with crossing-cupola. Over the three gates four dwarf galleries with arcade courses rise. The interior is dominated by Arab style items as well as lombard influences. Another determining building at the cathedral square is the 1152 begun baptistry. This largest baptistry of the world possesses the marble pulpit of Nicola Pisano, developed around 1260, in its center.

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