Pisa - Campo Santo

According to local legend Archbishop Ubaldo dei Lanfranchi, returning from the Fourth Crusade, brought back several shiploads of earth from Golgotha, so that the citizens of Pisa might be buried in sacred soil. The construction of the Camposanto (Sacred Field), however, began only in 1278, under the direction of Giovanni di Simone. This cemetery enclosure, which bounds the north side of the Campo dei Mirácoli, is a large rectangular cloister aligned from east to west, having round-headed windows with Gothic tracery opening into the courtyard.

On the floor of the cloister are the grave-slabs of Pisan patricians, and around the sides are antique sarcophagi. The walls were covered with 14th and 15th century frescoes, but as a result of a fire caused by artillery bombardment on July 21st 1944 these were either completely destroyed or badly damaged by molten lead running down from the roof. The frescoes were then detached from the walls, revealing the artists' preliminary sketches in red pigment. The frescoes, now restored, are displayed in rooms in the north wing, preparatory to being restored to their original positions. Particularly notable are the "Triumphof Death" by an unknown master, one of the finest large-scale paintings of the 14th century, and a "Last Judgment" by the same artist, together with part of a Passion cycle by various painters. Among the artists involved in the work were Benozzo Gozzoli, Antonio Veneziano, Spinello Aretino, Lippo Memmi and Taddeo Gaddi.