Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Pisa

The climax of any visit to this city has to be its famous leaning tower. I must admit, that I was even more impressed with the cathedral and its Baptistery all in the same square. One could get to the top if you were prepared to pay the price and wait for a few hours. We did not have the luxury of time and so had to forgo that experience. Must admit too, that I never took a single shot of my wife pushing the tower back straight, or having it in her hand, as countless other tourist seem to be doing. Ah well, it was still a most enjoyable lifetime experience witnessing all this. “The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is the third-oldest structure in the Square, The height of the tower is 55.86 metres (183.27 feet) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 metres (185.93 feet) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0.06 in). The tower has 296 steps but two less on the short side of the building. The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight, and it worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990 the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. The structure was stabilized by remedial work between 1993 and 2001, which reduced the tilt to 3.97 degrees.” As usual, best visual results in full screen.

A walk through the center of the old city eventually brings us here to the Piazza dei Miracoli, formally the ‘Piazza del Duomo’ – Cathedral Square. Centre of attraction in this photo is the cathedral itself, the Cattedrale di Pisa which was started in 1063. The left side of this picture is actually the front main Entrance (pip). To the left of that (facing the entrance) is another impressive round building: The San Giovanni Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni) . Of course to its right is the famous leaning tower. Pisa Cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy. It is a notable example of Romanesque architecture, in particular the style known as Pisan Romanesque. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Pisa. Wikipedia “San Giovanni Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni): The Baptistery of San Giovanni was founded on 15 August 1152. It is here that the Sacrament of Baptism is administered and the Christian embarks upon the path of Faith. The reason that such a fascinating and enigmatic building was constructed was certainly the wish to endow the cathedral with a worthy adjunct: a Baptistery that, in terms of position, size, materials and style, would be in harmony with the majestic building that already stood opposite.” Enjoy full screen.

Pisa on the River Arno is known to everybody. Not really for this beautiful view of its striking buildings on the river but for its famous leaning tower. – That will come later for us but in the meantime, stroll slowly with my wife and I, over its majestic bridges, and soak in the sights and colours on our way to it. Enjoy full screen.

Pisa, as we continue our stroll towards the city centre and the fabled leaning tower we spy this wonderful church here on the River Arno. "Santa Maria della Spina is a small church in the Italian city of Pisa. The church, erected around 1230 in the Pisan Gothic style, and enlarged after 1325, was originally known as Santa Maria di Pontenovo for the newer bridge that existed nearby, collapsed in the 15th century, and was never rebuilt." Wiki Enjoy full size