Piazza dei Cavalieri

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Piazza dei Cavalieri
Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri

The Piazza dei Cavalieri (in English Square of the Knights ) is famous for its representative buildings. It is located in the old town of Pisa and used to be the name of the secular main square of the city of Pisa. The influential Medici family demonstrated their power in this square, but that is not the only significance the square has in the history of the city. Pisa lost its independence in 1406 when the keys to the city were handed over to representatives of its greatest competitor, Florence. Ultimately, the Piazza dei Cavalieri is one of the most beautiful European Renaissance squares .

Palazzo dei Cavalieri

The Palazzo dei Cavalieri was built around 1560 by the architect Giorgio Vasari , who was commissioned by the Florentine Medici family. The piazza should be redesigned and better. The palace received a curvy facade adorned with coats of arms and a staircase adorned with statues.

Palazzo della Carovana

The former palace of the elders, also called Palazzo della Carovana, now houses an elite university that is a descendant of the Scuola Normale Superiore founded by Napoleon.

Palazzo dell'Orologio, Torre delle Sette Vie and Torre della Fame

The able architect Vasari also built the famous Palazzo dell'Orologio clock palace. It marked the transition from the Torre delle Sette Vie, a city prison, and the Torre della Fame, the hunger tower, which owes its name to the miserably starved city governor Count Ugolino della Gherardesca. He was accused of treason in 1288 and locked in this tower with his children. References to this count can be found in Dante's “Inferno”.

Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri

The church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, also built by Giorgio Vasari around 1567, is known for its imposing interior. It is consecrated to the Bishop of Rome Stephan I. Arab treasures, a baroque altar and an antique painted wooden ceiling ennoble this church and remind of the great prestige of the Piazza dei Cavalieri.

Web links

Commons : Piazza dei Cavalieri (Pisa)  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 43 ° 43 ′ 10 ″  N , 10 ° 24 ′ 0 ″  E