Piazza dei Cavalieri
Sightseeing attraction | Pisa | Tuscany | Italy
The Piazza dei Cavalieri, translated as "Square of the Knights", is the second most important square in Pisa after the Piazza dei Miracoli and a significant center of the city's history. Originally serving as the political heart of Pisa, it was the scene of important events. In the Middle Ages, the square was known as "Piazza delle Sette Vie" and housed numerous public buildings and churches. After Florence conquered Pisa in 1406, the square's importance remained, but the public offices and functions changed.
In the Renaissance, starting in 1558, the square was redesigned under the direction of architect Giorgio Vasari on behalf of Cosimo I de' Medici. Vasari designed the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, which was built between 1565 and 1569 and is considered the only Renaissance church building in Pisa. It contains Turkish naval flags captured by the Knights of the Order of St. Stephen after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
The Palazzo della Carovana, formerly the Palace of the Elders, was also modernized by Vasari and served as the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen. The facade is decorated with sgraffiti and features busts of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany in niches. In front of the palace stands a statue of Cosimo I de' Medici, created by Pietro Francavilla.
Another notable building is the Palazzo dell'Orologio, built on the site of two medieval towers. One of these towers, known as the "Torre della Fame", is mentioned in Dante's "Divine Comedy" as the place where Count Ugolino della Gherardesca and his family were imprisoned and died.
Today, the Palazzo della Carovana houses the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, a prestigious college founded by Napoleon Bonaparte and modeled after the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Famous figures such as poet Giosuè Carducci and physicist Enrico Fermi studied here.
The Piazza dei Cavalieri is an outstanding example of the fusion of medieval and Renaissance architecture, reflecting the rich history of Pisa. A visit to this square offers a deep insight into the cultural and political development of the city.
