# Pisa Cathedral > Pisa Cathedral is a huge 11th-century Romanesque church of white and grey marble, the centrepiece of the Field of Miracles beside the Leaning Tower. Inside are a long five-aisled hall of columns, a gilded wooden ceiling, Giovanni Pisano's marble pulpit and a bronze lamp linked with Galileo. Entry is by timed ticket, often bundled with the tower; allow 30 to 40 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/pisa-cathedral - City: [Pisa](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa), Italy - YesGo score: 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 40 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Timed ticket, included with the tower - Opening hours: Daily by day - Highlights: Pisano's pulpit, Bonanno's doors, ceiling, lamp - Built: From 1063–1064 - Time needed: 30–40 minutes - Location: Field of Miracles, between the tower and baptistery - Coordinates: 43.72329, 10.39550 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1063–1064** — Buscheto began the cathedral (source: English Wikipedia) - **5 aisles** — a vast hall lined with columns (source: English Wikipedia) - **1302–1310** — Giovanni Pisano carved the marble pulpit (source: English Wikipedia) - **Bonanno** — cast the bronze doors of the San Ranieri portal (source: English Wikipedia) - **1987** — the cathedral and square joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO, no. 395) ## History of Pisa Cathedral In the 11th century Pisa was a rich maritime republic whose fleet traded across the Mediterranean. With that money the architect **Buscheto** began a new cathedral dedicated to the Virgin in **1063–1064**. It was later lengthened and embellished, and the baptistery and bell tower, the famous leaning one, rose beside it. The cathedral became the model of **Pisan Romanesque**: striped walls of white and grey marble, tiers of airy arcades on the façade and a dome over the crossing. The style was copied in the cathedrals of Lucca, Pistoia and even Sardinia. With the tower, baptistery and square it's a **UNESCO** World Heritage Site. ## Inside Inside is a vast **five-aisled** hall with rows of granite columns, striped arches and a 17th-century **gilded coffered ceiling** bearing Medici arms. A great apse mosaic of Christ enthroned glows behind the altar, with a painted dome above the choir. The chief treasure is **Giovanni Pisano**'s marble **pulpit** (**1302–1310**), a hexagonal platform on columns and figures, covered in Bible reliefs and one of the peaks of Italian Gothic sculpture. In the nave hangs a bronze **lamp** called 'Galileo's lamp': legend says watching it swing set the scientist thinking about pendulums, though the lamp itself arrived slightly later. ## What to see in the cathedral - **Giovanni Pisano's pulpit** — a marble platform of reliefs. - **Bonanno's bronze doors** — the San Ranieri portal facing the tower. - **The gilded ceiling** — coffers and coats of arms. - **The apse mosaic** — Christ enthroned. - **Galileo's lamp** — the bronze lamp in the nave. - **The façade** — four tiers of marble arcades. > **Getting a ticket** Entry is by a timed ticket, issued free with a tower ticket or tickets for other monuments on the square, and at the ticket office. In season, get it in advance to avoid waiting. Shoulders and knees must be covered. ## Doors and façade Visitors usually enter by the side **San Ranieri** portal, facing the Leaning Tower. Its 12th-century bronze doors were cast by **Bonanno Pisano**, the master also linked with the start of the tower. The panels show the life of Christ, simple and expressive, with palms and animals. The main façade doors were cast later, at the end of the 16th century. Look at the façade from the lawn by the baptistery: four tiers of slender columns and arches, mosaics and marble inlay. White marble dazzles in the sun, so sunglasses help at midday. ## The cathedral and the Field of Miracles The cathedral is the heart of the Field of Miracles: the round baptistery in front, the leaning bell tower behind and a smooth green lawn all around that makes the white marble shine. The writer Gabriele D'Annunzio called it a 'meadow of miracles', and the name stuck. For the whole view, stand on the lawn between the cathedral and the baptistery, where you see the façade, the dome and the tower on the right. At sunset the marble turns warm and honey-coloured and the crowds thin out. With time to spare, walk all the way round: the apse and side walls carry carved cornices, ancient inscribed slabs and even small animal sculptures. ## How to get to Pisa Cathedral 1. The cathedral stands on the [Field of Miracles](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/piazza-dei-miracoli) between the baptistery and the tower. 2. From **Pisa Centrale** station, 25 minutes on foot or 10 by the LAM Rossa bus. 3. From Florence, the train to Pisa Centrale takes about an hour. 4. Visitors enter through the San Ranieri portal, facing the tower. ## Tips for your visit The cathedral fits neatly after climbing the [Leaning Tower](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/leaning-tower-of-pisa): the ticket usually includes entry and the slots are close together. 30 to 40 minutes is enough. Tourist access is limited during Mass, and on Sunday mornings it's for worshippers only. Photos without flash are allowed. For some quiet, come at opening or near closing when there are fewer groups. Afterwards, visit the [baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/pisa-baptistery) to hear its famous echo. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Get a timed cathedral ticket - [ ] Cover shoulders and knees - [ ] Study Bonanno's bronze doors - [ ] Find Giovanni Pisano's pulpit - [ ] Look up at Galileo's lamp ## Places in Pisa: compare and choose Places in Pisa rated by YesGo. - [Pisa Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/pisa-cathedral) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Timed ticket - [Pisa Baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/pisa-baptistery) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Paid ## The Field of Miracles in half a day The Leaning Tower, the cathedral and the baptistery. 1. [Leaning Tower of Pisa](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/leaning-tower-of-pisa) — YesGo score 67/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Climb paid 2. [Pisa Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/pisa-cathedral) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Timed ticket 3. [Pisa Baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/pisa/pisa-baptistery) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Paid ## Don't mix it up Pisa Cathedral is the city's main church and the Leaning Tower its bell tower; they're separate buildings with separate entrances. Don't confuse it with Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore. ## Tips - Timed ticket bundled with the tower. - Cover shoulders and knees. - Enter opposite the tower. - Fewer groups in the morning. ## Questions ### How much is Pisa Cathedral? A timed cathedral ticket is usually issued free with a tower ticket or tickets for other monuments on the square. ### What is there to see inside Pisa Cathedral? Giovanni Pisano's pulpit, Bonanno's bronze doors, the gilded ceiling, the apse mosaic and Galileo's lamp. ### When was Pisa Cathedral built? The architect Buscheto began it in 1063–1064. ### Can you take photos in the cathedral? Yes, without flash and not during services. ### How long do you need at the cathedral? 30 to 40 minutes. ## How we checked History and interior from English Wikipedia and UNESCO. Entry rules weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - UNESCO: Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (no. 395) - English Wikipedia: Pisa Cathedral - Official site, opapisa.it --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.