Monumental Cemetery

Together with the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Leaning Tower, the Camposanto Monumentale on the north side of Piazza dei Miracoli forms Pisa’s exceptional architectural complex.

The cemetery was built in the 13th century to house the tombs that had previously been scattered around the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. With its Gothic cloister, round-arched marble vaults, and impressive fresco cycles, the structure stands on par with the world’s most prestigious monumental cemeteries.

In 1278, the architect Giovanni di Simone began construction of the building, fulfilling the wish of the then Archbishop of Pisa to create a dignified, enclosed space for eternal rest. According to tradition, the Camposanto contains soil from the Holy Land, brought back to Italy during the Second Crusade in the mid-12th century. From the 16th century onward, the city’s most illustrious figures were buried here, including professors from the University and members of the powerful Medici family, who at the time ruled over part of Tuscany.

Fascinating frescoes

The Camposanto Monumentale is also known for its impressive frescoes, created starting in the 14th century by leading artists of the time. The most famous series of frescoes is attributed to the Florentine artist Buonamico Buffalmacco, who painted “The Triumph of Death.” His works “The Last Judgment” and “Hell” also capture the attention of all visitors.