Pisa – Cathedral Museum


Behind the Cathedral and the Tower is the Cathedral Museum, containing may works of art which at one time were in and around the Cathedral and other buildings in the Field of Miracles.  Over time these works were moved inside for safety or preservation.  There are a wide variety of pieces housed here despite the…

Pisa – Sinopie Museum


Across the square from the Camposanto is the Sinopie Museum.  This museum houses the full-scale sketches that were used to create the frescoes inside the Camposanto.  Although it probably receives even fewer visitors than the Camposanto, the museum is certainly a valuable part of your trip to Pisa. Perhaps the idea of looking at someone’s…

Pisa – Camposanto


Believe it or not, there is more to see in Pisa’s cathedral square than just the famous tower.  My personal favorite is the Camposanto (“holy ground”) – a large Gothic cloister burial ground constructed in 1279 around soil brought back from Golgotha, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion.  The outer walls of the Camposanto are fairly…

The People of Pompeii


Despite the beauty and incredible preservation of Pompeii, there is a sadness to visiting it as well.  An estimated 2,000 people were estimated to have fallen victim the Vesuvius’ cataclysmic eruption.  Of those, the remains of over 1,000 have been discovered during excavations in addition to the remains of animals.  After being buried by the…

The Streets of Pompeii


There are so many amazing things to see in Pompeii.  One of my favorites was actually the streets.  Naturally they are all nicely planned out and well constructed.  Raised stones in various spots served as a means for pedestrians to cross without stepping into the often dirty water flowing down the roads.  These “crosswalks” were…