The 10 Best Architectural Buildings in Province of Pisa, Tuscany

It is called the Leaning Tower or the Tower of Pisa but actually it was never used for defending the city; it is part of the religious complex in the Duomo Square and acts as its bell tower. It played an active role in both human and divine timekeeping with its seven bells – one for each musical note – the largest of which, cast in 1655, weighs a full three and a half tonnes! It is known throughout the world for the beauty of its architecture, for its extraordinary tilt, which makes it an authentic miracle of statics, and for the fact that it stands in the universally renowned Piazza dei Miracoli, of which it is certainly the prize jewel. And this is why it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

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.

Founded in 1064 and consecrated with great pomp on September 26th 1118, the Cathedral was built in two stages, one by architect Buscheto, who created the original layout with the basilican body with four aisles and one nave, a transept with one nave and two aisles, and the dome on the cross vault, and one by Rainaldo, who extended the building and the façade. The building was not finally completed until the last quarter of the XII century, when Bonannoís bronze leaves were placed on the central door, which were later destroyed by the devastating fire of 1595, after which many of the destroyed works were replaced and a vast decorative plan was started.

Palazzo Viti is one of the finest private residential building in Italy. The twelve rooms tht are open to the pubblic are fitted with furniture, porcelains, alabaster collection and other valuable items representing Italian, European and Oriental Art. The Palace is still inhabited by descendant of the Viti family.

The Castello dei Vicari is situated on a hill that was inhabited from ancient times. The first document relating to its existence dates back to 1043 when a plot of land belonging to the Castle of Lari was sold for a sword. It was the site of the Pisan captaincy between the 12th and 14 th centuries, but came to prominence after it was captured by Florence in the 15th century and became the site of a Vicariate overseen by Florence. Despite the many alterations, modifications and overlaps that were made to the fortress, visitors can still see in its present aspect the many ways that it was used: as a fortress, prison, home of the Vicar with his "family" and court. To name only the most important ones, since the most observant and enquiring visitors will not miss the more ancient archaeological traces and the other less apparent aspects which are just as important and contribute to making the Castle of Lari a rare if not unique example of its kind in Tuscany and beyond. The museum route inside the Castello dei Vicari (the Castle of the Vicars) has a new layout creating a whole new visit in which technology is combined with an illustrated and educational system that takes you on a discovery of a fortress that was the centre of control in Medici Tuscany and home to a Florentine vicariate for over four centuries. The users take the lead and decide what they want to take a closer look at and how to interact with the numerous multimedia applications along the route through the use of multi-touch tablets, multimedia educational games, holographic figures in period costume and multiple projections. A story and a journey of discovery suited to even very young children thanks to the short films and dedicated applications.