Pistoia - San Giovanni Fuorcivitas

San Giovanni Fuorcivitas was built outside the sity walls (= Fuorcivitas) during Lombard times. In 1119 Bishop Hildebrand of Pistoia notes down, that the church is "nearly in ruins", so soon after the building process started for the church seen here. The works were finally completed in 1344, when the church got enlarged by two bays.

It may be, that Gruamonte was the first architect here. He may have created the green/white pattern of the wall, typical of other buildings in Pistoia.

The interior is a very large hall and a rectangular apse.

To take photographs is - unfortunately - strictly forbidden. It only took the guard to minutes to give me a severe warning and tell me, that he would lock the doors within a couple of minutes.

So the very few photos I could take - are very blurry.

To he left is a ceramic glaze sculpture depicting the "Visitation", by Luca della Robbia from the mid 15th century.

The holy water font in the middle is attributed to Giovanni Pisano.

The pulpit to the right is a work of Guglielmo Agnelli (aka "Fra Guglielmo"), a disciple of Nicola Pisano.