When I come across famous places, people, and things my first connection is usually to a pop culture related memory. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is no different. Today, I went on a tour of Pisa and Lucca, Italy with my schoolmate Erika (Mexico).
When I think of the leaning tower of Pisa I think of the movie, Superman III (with Christopher Reeves). In the final scene, Superman flies to the tower and fixes it by making it lean again. Earlier, "Evil Superman" had messed up the tower by straightening it.
Our bus left from Florence's bus station at 9am, Saturday morning. I have heard that there isn't much more to Pisa other than the tower and the square it sits in - Piazza dei Miracoli. Our driver seemed to have the same general underwhelming opinion of the town and declared the two hours we were to spend there would probably be too long.
We arrived in Pisa in about 40 minutes and I have to say everyone was right. While Miracle Square is pretty impressive and houses Pisa Hospital, a Cemetary, the baptistry, the cathedral, Santa Maria Assunta and of course its bell tower - the leaning tower of Pisa --- that's about all there is.
According to our tour guide, the leaning Tower of Pisa currently leans at a 5 degree angle. The tower's construction began in 1173 and it took three architects to complete the structure. It began to lean because the ground was soft as just a few hundred years after the birth of Christ Pisa was underwater. The design and appearance is similar to the turrets found on Mosques - a tip towards the influence of nearby Turkey.
Standing right next to the tower is the Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta. Just about every inch of this truly magnificent church is adorned with sculptures, paintings and other works of art.
The piece that stood out to me was the old preaching pulpit. It stands a quarter of the way back from the altar. Back in the day, the priest would use this pulpit to preach while towering over his congregation. Different scenes from th Bible are depicted on the structure --- including the killing of the first borns by Kind Herrod and the crucification. In all, over three hundred different figures are sculpted on the it's paneling. Holiding up the raised platform are three women symbolizing faith hope and charity. At the base lions representing the strength of Catholicism. When the pulpit was built a few hundred years ago most of the attending congregation couldn't read or write - the art helped get the message of the Catholic Church to them in a way they could understand.
After our tour of the cathedral we drove about an hour to Lucca, Italy. Lucca is a quaint town filled with classic churches, an amphitheater and is surrounded by an ancient wall. In this old world town a very new age festival was taking place: Lucca's Comic and Game festival (apparently continuing the comic book theme that had started for me at Pisa...) -- scores of teenager were dressed up as various superheroes and video game characters. It was strange to see kids in elaborate costumes strolling down the narrow cobblestone streets and into the Japanese Anime exhibit. Truly old world meets new.
Picture One by Jaya Bird : Me at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Picture Two by Jaya Bird: Old Preaching Pulpit at the Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta
Picture Three by Jaya Bird: Lucca Comic and Game Festival
enjoyed your writing and the style, i remember the pulpit
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