Camposanto, Pisa

View across the courtyard of the Camposanto. Photo Cinzia.

Camposanto Panorama

Central courtyard of the Camposanto. Photo pansaram.

Camposanto Panorama

Central courtyard of the Camposanto. Photo pansaram.

Cloister corridor by night, with frescoes at left. Photo Fabrizio.

Frescoes from the Camposanto. Photo Michel Roland-Guill.

Tomb of Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti. Photo Michel Roland-Guill.

Tomb

Tomb with effigy relief. Photo Daniele.

Exterior wall of the Camposanto. Photo Claus Wolf.

The Camposanto ("Holy Field") or Monumental Cemetery in Pisa was constructed in 1278 around sacred dirt brought back from Golgotha during the Crusades. Later decorated with extensive frescoes, it was the burial place of the Pisan upper class for centuries.

History

The history of the Monumental Cemetery began in the 12th century, when Archbishop Ubaldo Lanfranchi (1108-78) brought back shiploads of holy dirt from Golgotha (where Christ was crucified) during the Crusades.

In 1278, Giovanni di Simone (architect of the Leaning Tower) designed a marble cloister to enclose the holy ground, which became the primary cemetery for Pisa's upper class until 1779. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the walls of the Camposanto were decorated with frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi, Spinello Aretino, Benozzo Gozzoli, Andrea Bonaiuti, Antonio Veneziano, and Piero di Puccio.

Tragically, the extensive frescoes of the Camposanto were almost completely destroyed by a bombing raid during World War II. On July 27, 1944, American warplanes launched a major air attack against Pisa, which was still held by the Nazis. The wooden roof caught fire, its lead panels melted and the hot metal ran all over the frescoes. Many were completely destroyed and the few that remained were badly damaged.

The Camposanto has since been fully restored and most of the surviving frescoes, along with preparatory sketches (sinopie) found underneath, have been moved to the Museo delle Sinopie in Pisa.

What to See

A long, rectangular stretch of well-tended grass surrounded by Gothic marble cloisters and topped with a dome at one end, the Camposanto is a unique and elegant space. The exterior marble walls facing the cathedral are solid and unadorned save for some simple blind arcading. The inner walls overlooking the long courtyard are made of delicate traceried windows, which were never filled with glass.

The cloisters are filled with funerary monuments, many of which reuse ancient Roman sarcophagi. Despite the loss of many tombs during the war, a remarkable 84 Roman sarcophagi, most from the 3rd century AD, still survive. Other funerary monuments are Neoclassical confections, floor tombstones with effigy reliefs, and smaller memorial plaques.

Roman sculptures were also brought to the Camposanto for decoration beginning in the 14th century. Together with the Roman sarcophagi, these ancient artworks formed one of the most important collections of Classical art in Europe, inspiring some of Pisa's greatest medieval and early Renaissance sculptures.

Some original frescoes can still be seen in the Camposanto, the most notable of which are in a large room off the north gallery. Dating from the 14th century, these depict the Triumph of Death, a terrifying Last Judgment and Stories of the Anchorites. The artist is unknown, so he is known by the delightful name "Master of the Triumph of Death." In 1839, Liszt was inspired by this fresco to write his famous Totentanz, "Dance of Death."

The huge harbor chains of the port of Pisa can be seen hanging on the walls of the Camposanto. These were taken by the Genoese in 1342 and returned to Pisa in 1860. The crenellated walls outside the Camposanto to the west date from the 12th century. A Romanesque lion can be seen atop the wall near the 13th-century Porta del Leone, which is named for the sculpture.

Quick Facts

Site Information
Names:	Camposanto; Campo Santo; Monumental Cemetery
Location:	Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
Faith:	Christianity
Denomination:	Catholic
Category:	Graves and Tombs; World Heritage Sites
Architecture:	Gothic
Date:	1278
Architect:	Giovanni di Simone
Features:	Murals/Frescoes
Status:	museum
Visitor Information
Address:	Piazza del Duomo, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
Coordinates:	43.724° N, 10.3947° E (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:	View hotels near this location

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Pisa Map - our detailed interactive map of Pisa, plus hand-picked links to more
Pisa Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
Pisa Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and activities in Pisa
Pisa Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Camposanto. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Pisa Map.

Article Sources

Personal visit (May 2, 2008).
Alta Macadam and Ellen Grady, Blue Guide Central Italy with Rome and Florence, 1st ed. (Somerset: Blue Guides Limited, 2008), 356-57.
John Moretti, Frommer's Florence, Tuscany & Umbria, 6th edition (January 2008).
Piazza del Duomo, Pisa - UNESCO World Heritage List

Last updated on July 26, 2009.