Palazzo dell'Opera
Museum | Pisa | Tuscany | Italy
The Palazzo dell'Opera della Primaziale Pisana is located in the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa and is a historical building that originally served as the residence of the cathedral canons. Over the centuries, it has been renovated several times and served various purposes, including as a convent for Capuchin nuns. Today, it houses the administration of the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, which is responsible for the care and management of the cathedral and the entire square.
The facade of the palace displays a coat of arms of the Medici family as well as marble plaques with the initials of the Opera del Duomo. Inside, there are remarkable decorations from various periods and styles, including a rare Byzantine fresco of the Madonna with Child and two saints, painted by an Italian and a foreign artist before the time of Cimabue and the Giotto revolution in the early 14th century. Other works include the "Pentecost Scene" by Giovan Battista Tempesti, the "Coronation of Mary" by Pomarancio, and the ceiling paintings by Agostino Ghirlanda in the "Loggetta" on the ground floor from 1550.
The palace features a chapel with stucco work by Angelo Somazzi and Giuseppe Ferri, as well as frescoes by Ranieri Allegranti from 1783. Adjacent to the building is the chapter's archive, which houses valuable documents such as papal and imperial charters, an Exsultet from the 11th century, illuminated liturgical books, and various historical documents.
Therefore, the Palazzo dell'Opera is an important historical and cultural center that reflects the rich history and artistic heritage of the cathedral of Pisa and the entire square.
