Weekend Visits: Pisa & Carrara

Cathedral of Pisa

Students in the GST course and Art History course go on all out-of-town field trips together. Today was our first trip! Although I am very much a tourist in Florence, I don't feel nearly as touristy as I did today in Pisa! The group walked around with little audio-guides hanging from our necks by yellow lanyards. Italy is very "fashion-forward," so we, of course, fit right in.

Bell Tower of Pisa

I attended the trip today based on my enrollment in the GST course. However, I now wish that I was enrolled in the Art History course. Professor Butler knows so much about art history, particularly that of Italy. She told me today that she visits Pisa approximately 15 times a year. A YEAR. That's insane to me. In my GST course last week, Professor D'Amato enlightened me to the fact that modern society has the knowledge and ability to straighten the Learning Tower of Pisa, but chooses not to do so, for that would destroy the economy of Pisa (it's extremely reliant upon tourism). I'm not too sure what all there is to do in Pisa, since we stayed in the Piazza del Duomo. We toured the bell tower, baptistery, and cathedral! In actuality, we didn't climb the bell tower, but I've done that in the past!

Baptistery

We hurried into the baptistery as there was a private baptism scheduled for later in the morning. Every 30 minutes, the guard sings. No words, just a beautiful melody echoes into the basin and resonates throughout the baptistery. After a mesmerizing 20 seconds, the performance is over; no one claps; every continues onwards with his or her business. Professor Butler continued to lecture on the various pieces of art in the baptistery, giving significant attention to the Pisa Baptistery Pulpit.

Phaedra & Hippolytus Sarcophagus

We next moved to the Camposanto, where we looked at the Phaedra & Hippolytus Sarcophagus and the Traini Frescoes. Our time in the Camposanto was fairly short, and we next viewed the San Raniere Doors of the Pisa Catheral, as well as the Pisa Cathedral Pulpit.
 

After a quick lunch, our group headed to a small sea-side town where Michelangelo once resided while working on a commission. This town (the name of which I can't remember!) is known for it's marble, though is lesser-known that Carrara, the town to which we next headed.

Carrara

We adventured up the mountain, a task which proved very hazardous. A huge bus advancing up a very steep mountain? No one was the least bit nervous. In Carrara, we toured a marble quarry, shopped a bit in the gift shop, and admired the view. Here, I bought a small gift for my father.

 

We boarded the bus to head back to Florence, only to be surprised with a quick stop at an art studio where they carve marble!

It was a very long (not to mention exhausting) day, but I really enjoyed the experience.