Pisa - Santa Maria della Spina

On the right bank of the Arno is the small Gothic church "Santa Maria della Spina", built in 1230. At that time it was known as "Santa Maria di Pontenovo" - I am standing on that "new bridge". In 1333 the name of the church was changed, as since then a relic believed to be a thorn ("spina") of the Crown of Thorns was venerated here.

The church originally was erected right on the banks of the river, but in 1871 it was dismantled and rebuilt on the higher level.