Camposanto, also known as the Camposanto Monumentale, is a famous cemetery in Pisa, Italy, located in the Piazza dei Miracoli.
Dating back to the 13th century, it features stunning Gothic architecture with 43 blind arches on its exterior wall.
The cemetery houses three chapels, including the oldest, Chapel Ammannati. It has been converted into a museum since the early 19th century, showcasing valuable historical and artistic artifacts.
Visitors can admire its beauty through frescoes and monuments, making it a must-see destination in Tuscany.
Camposanto History
Giovanni di Simone began constructing Camposanto in 1278, completing it in the 16th century.
The cemetery was built on sacred soil from the Third Crusade, believed to decompose bodies rapidly.
Legend dubbed it Camposanto, as Pisan ships mixed soil from the Holy Land here.
Bishop Federico Visconti donated the land in 1277, initially as a church dedicated to the Trinity.
Pisa’s defeat in the Battle of Meloria partly halted construction.
The Genovese army took chains from the entrance in 1284, returning after Italy’s reunification.
Frescos along the corridor began in 1360, featuring themes of life and death.
Notable figures rest here, but many graves were damaged in World War II.
Restoration work has since preserved the remaining frescos and drawings.
Visitors are urged to respect the cemetery’s heritage and solemn atmosphere.
Most visitors prefer taking a guided tour to learn more about the history and significance of the site.
What to see in Camposanto?
The Camposanto Monumentale’s cloisters are filled with funerary monuments, including an extraordinary 84 Roman sarcophagi that survived the war; others did not.
Other monuments include Neoclassical works of art, floor tombstones with reliefs of various effigies, and smaller memorial plaques.
The Camposanto interior showcases breathtaking frescoes and intricate sculptures, making it a culturally enriching experience for visitors.
You will find some of it during your visit.
Cappella del Pozzo
With its eye-catching dome, the Cappella del Pozzo was added to the structure in 1594. It is named after the Archbishop of Pisa, Carlo Antonio del Pozzo.
Chapels
In addition to the Capella del Pozzo, the Camposanto has two other chapels: the Ammanati Chapel and the Aulla Chapel.
Ruins
The Santa Reparata church’s Baptistery ruins are beneath the cemetery. (The church itself stood on the site of the Duomo).
The Frescoes
In the fourteenth century, the structure of the frescoes inside the building began to take shape, with artists Francesco Traini and Bonamico Buffalmacco creating vibrant depictions of Life and Death.
They staged Dominican Cavalca’s sermons and Dante’s Comedy. At the same time, Andrea Bonaiuti and Benozzo Gozzoli continued the cycle well into the fifteenth century, completing it along the northern wall.
The Triumph of Death
Restoration efforts unveiled original fresco designs beneath existing ones in 1944, severely damaged by a bomb explosion.
On 6 June, 2018, the most important and best-preserved fresco, part of the “Triumph of Death” cycle, was relocated to its original location after a long restoration history.
To explore the Tower of Pisa and other attractions nearby, check out the best ticket options.
Camposanto Opening Hours
Pisa Camposanto is open longer in peak season, April to September, from 8 am to 8 pm, to accommodate tourists.
In the quieter months, October to March, it opens at 9 am and closes at 5.30 pm. These hours allow visitors to enjoy the cemetery’s art and sculptures.
Opening hours may change on holidays or for special events.
Find the detailed Camposanto timings below.
| Months | Timings |
|---|---|
| 1 November | 9 am to 6 pm |
| 22 December to 6 January | 9 am to 6 pm |
| February | 10 am to 5 pm |
| March | 9 am to 6 pm |
| 23 March to 29 March | 9 am to 7 pm |
| April | 8 am to 8 pm |
| 17 June to 31 August | 8 am to 10 pm |
| September | 8 am to 8 pm |
| October | 9 am to 7 pm |
| 27 October to 1 November | 9 am to 6 pm |
How to reach Camposanto?
The Camposanto is located in Piazza del Duomo, 17, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy.
Find the Camposanto location here.
The Piazza dei Miracoli is about a mile (1.5 kilometers) north of Pisa’s train station, which trains daily to Rome, Florence, and Venice.
You can also walk through Pisa’s historic center or take a bus (Buses 21 and 4) to Piazza dei Miracoli from the train station.
The cemetery is part of the same Square of Miracles complex that houses the tower. Check out the most popular tickets and have a great trip!
Tips to Remember
- Examine the remaining frescoes. Some notable examples include the 14th-century Triumph of Death, a terrifying Last Judgment, and the Anchorites’ Stories.
- Take your time admiring the artwork. Everything is exquisitely detailed, from the paintings to the statues to the sarcophagi!
- There will be a large crowd outside.
- Visitors with tickets can use the complex’s restrooms and free cloakroom in the Opera della Primaziale Pisana building.
- Try eating at one of the restaurants and cafés near the Piazza dei Miracoli Square.
- Wheelchair users can access the Camposanto cemetery.
- To enter the cemetery chapels, you must wear modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Contents
FAQs
Where is Camposanto?
Campo Santo, Camposanto Monumentale, or Camposanto Vecchio, is a cemetery located on the northern side of Pisa’s Cathedral Square.
What was the Camposanto in Pisa, and what happened to it?
Camposanto in Pisa is a cemetery. A bomb fragment from an Allied raid started a fire in Camposanto on July 27, 1944, which burned for three days and caused the timber lead roof to collapse.
The roof’s destruction severely harmed everything inside the cemetery, destroying most of the sculptures and sarcophagi and jeopardizing the frescoes.
What does Camposanto mean?
Although the name translates to “saint’s field,” which generally means “cemetery,” the original name, “Campus Sanctus,” most likely honored the 14th-century Ferrara family of Santi, who owned the land.
The campo santo is a cemetery with a large collection of sepulchral monuments and a museum dedicated to the dead.
What is the historical significance of Camposanto?
Since at least the late Roman period, the Camposanto site has been used as a holy burial ground.
The central area, which is arranged as a cloister, is thought to contain soil from Golgotha.
The colonnades host numerous sarcophagi, burial tombs, and funerary monuments.
Featured Image: Wjarek / Getty Images
