Download the app and start listening
GPS-guided audio guide while you walk.
About this place
Practical information
Points included in this audio guide
Apsidal Mosaic with Christ Enthroned
The apsidal mosaic in Pisa's Cathedral depicts Christ enthroned in judgement, flanked by the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist. Measuring 385×223 cm, it adorns the apse vault. This is the only documented work by the master Cimabue, who completed the figure of St John the Evangelist before his death in 1302, leaving the mosaic unfinished. A remarkable example of late medieval Byzantine-influenced craftsmanship.
Dome with Frescoes by Orazio Riminaldi
The crossing dome of Pisa Cathedral displays a striking Baroque fresco: the Virgin in Glory with Saints, painted by Pisan artist Orazio Riminaldi between 1627 and 1631. This masterwork represents the final major decorative intervention following the cathedral fire of 1595, which had interrupted the ambitious interior renovation programme. The fresco remains one of the most remarkable examples of Baroque decoration within the cathedral's interior.
San Ranieri Chapel
The Chapel of San Ranieri occupies the right transept of Pisa's cathedral and is dedicated to the city's patron saint. His relics are housed in a magnificent reliquary above the altar. The chapel contains artworks spanning several centuries, reflecting the enduring devotion of Pisa's inhabitants to their patron. It's what to see if you're visiting the cathedral complex.
Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament
The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament sits within the left transept of Pisa's Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Its focal point is a magnificent silver ciborium, an ornate Baroque masterpiece of considerable richness, positioned above the chapel's altar. This impressive liturgical vessel exemplifies the cathedral's artistic heritage and remains one of the most striking features to see during a visit to this important religious site in Pisa.
Tomb of Henry VII (Tino da Camaino)
Henry VII's tomb, created by Sianese sculptor Tino da Camaino between 1313 and 1315, ranks among Italy's most important medieval funerary monuments, though it survives in fragmented and reassembled form. You'll find it in the south transept of Pisa's Cathedral, within the Chapel of San Ranieri. The sarcophagus features the Emperor's recumbent effigy with twelve apostles in bas-relief across the front—a remarkable example of early 14th-century sculptural craftsmanship.
Western Façade (Rainaldo)
The western façade of Pisa Cathedral is a masterpiece of Pisan Romanesque architecture, designed by Rainaldo in the 12th century and completed before 1180. The facade is structured vertically with a lower section featuring blind arcades and three portals, topped by four tiers of open colonnaded loggias. Bands of white and grey marble are inlaid with polychrome marble, creating a striking visual effect. What to see here is a quintessential example of medieval Italian architectural design at its finest.
Gilded Ceiling (Atticciati)
The gilded wooden coffered ceiling of Pisa Cathedral's central nave is a masterwork of carved and gilded lacunar panels extending across the transept and presbytery. Executed by Florentine brothers Domenico and Bartolomeo Atticciati between 1596 and 1602, it remains one of the cathedral's most striking interior features. The work formed part of the major reconstruction campaign following the devastating fire of October 1595. What to see: the intricate geometric patterns and rich gold leaf detailing that exemplify Renaissance craftsmanship.
Galileo's Lamp
Galileo's Lamp is a striking chandelier suspended in the central nave of Pisa Cathedral, famous for its association with Galileo Galilei's discovery of pendulum isochronism. According to legend, Galileo observed the lamp's swinging motion and made his groundbreaking observations here. The lamp you see today dates from 1587, making it a later addition than the legendary episode itself. This remarkable artefact remains one of the cathedral's most notable features and a testament to the scientific genius that shaped the Renaissance.
Cosmatesque Pavement
Pisa's cosmati floor is a remarkable marble inlay composition featuring geometric patterns in opus alexandrinum technique, dating from the mid-12th century. Located in the area of the cathedral's triumphal arch, it represents a rare example of this Roman decorative method outside Lazio, the region where cosmati work flourished most prominently during the medieval period.
- 1.Apsidal Mosaic with Christ Enthroned
- 2.Dome with Frescoes by Orazio Riminaldi
- 3.San Ranieri Chapel
- 4.Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament
- 5.Tomb of Henry VII (Tino da Camaino)
- 6.Western Façade (Rainaldo)
- 7.Gilded Ceiling (Atticciati)
- 8.Galileo's Lamp
- 9.Cosmatesque Pavement
Kids audio available
Kids version available with adapted and fun language for the little ones (22 min)
Prefer to discover on the go?
Buy photo credits and take a photo of any monument. Our AI will recognize it and you'll receive the audio guide instantly.
Share with your family
Share your audio guides with your family using a single access code.
Learn how it worksDownload Guipock and start exploring
Audio guides narrated while you walk. Available on the App Store.
