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Foggini's High Altar
Foggini's High Altar is a monumental Baroque creation dominating the presbytery of the church, fashioned from polychrome marbles, porphyry and gilt bronze. Commissioned by Cosimo III de' Medici, the altar served simultaneously as a reliquary and throne for the relics of Saint Stephen the Pope. Executed between 1700 and 1709 under the direction of Giovanni Battista Foggini, the project benefited from the collaborative skill of Carrara-born sculptor Andrea Vaccà, who crafted the marble statuary. What to see here is a masterwork of ecclesiastical Baroque artistry.
Gilded Wooden Ceiling
The gilded wooden ceiling in the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri is an ornate expanse of carved and gilded timber that spans the nave. It features a striking arrangement of rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal coffers, adorned with gold inlays against blue backgrounds. Six painted panels depict scenes from the exploits of the Grand Duke's fleet. This ceiling remains the most impressive decorative feature within the church's interior. Well worth seeing when you visit Pisa.
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
The Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento sits within the Chiesa di Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, positioned in the right wing of the building towards the high altar. Added during the 19th century as an extension to the church's sacred space, this chapel reflects the later architectural expansions made to accommodate the growing needs of the religious community.
Nativity of Christ (Bronzino)
Bronzino's Nativity of Christ is an oil-on-panel painting completed in 1564 for Duke Cosimo de' Medici and originally commissioned for the church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. Now in Pisa, this work exemplifies the artist's late career mastery and the considerable esteem he retained at the Medici court in his final years. Period sources through the 19th century ranked it among his finest achievements, making it a significant testament to his enduring artistic reputation.
Organo Tamburini (opus 65)
The Tamburini Organ (opus 65) is the principal instrument at Chiesa di Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri in Pisa. Built in 1914 by Giovanni Tamburini of Crema, this impressive pipe organ features three 61-note manuals, a 32-note concave-radial pedalboard, 91 stops and approximately 5,200 pipes. The pipework is divided between two chambers flanking the apse—the open section on the right and the expressive section on the left—with an independent mobile console at floor level and electronic transmission. What to see here is a remarkable example of early 20th-century Italian organ-building craftsmanship.
Collection of Ottoman Flags
Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri holds the world's largest collection of intact and fragmented Ottoman naval flags. Gathered through raids by the Cavalieri stefaniani against Muslim fleets in the Mediterranean between the 16th and 18th centuries, the collection comprises just over 60 pieces. You'll find these banners displayed on the church's nave walls, alongside fragments of galleys and naval lanterns seized from enemy vessels. It's a remarkable record of maritime conflict from this period.
Pulpit of Chiarissimo Fancelli
Built in 1627, the Pulpito di Chiarissimo Fancelli is an ornate marble pulpit housed in Pisa Cathedral. Its distinctive design features a rectangular structure with three decorated faces, supported at the front by two slender Tuscan columns of mischio marble on tall plintos of white, green and black marble. Wall-mounted cherub brackets support the rear section. The panels showcase intricate hardstone inlays in geometric and floral patterns. The lower frieze alternates between the eight-pointed red cross of the Order of San Stefano and the inscription "OPAE" (from Opera della Cattedrale), marking its origin as an Opera del Duomo creation. What to see: detailed examples of 17th-century polychrome marble craftsmanship and Renaissance decorative techniques.
- 1.Foggini's High Altar
- 2.Gilded Wooden Ceiling
- 3.Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
- 4.Nativity of Christ (Bronzino)
- 5.Organo Tamburini (opus 65)
- 6.Collection of Ottoman Flags
- 7.Pulpit of Chiarissimo Fancelli
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