Italia Pisa Un gioiello dell'arte gotica, Santa Maria della Spina

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SANTA MARIA DELLA SPINA
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Santa Maria della Spina is a small Gothic church
in Pisa, one of the most outstanding Gothic
edifices of Europe.
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Along the Arno River one sees the beautiful
buildings of Pisa with the hills of Tuscany in
the background.
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The church, erected in 1230 by Gualandi family,
was originally known as Santa Maria di Pontenovo
the new name of Spina ("thorn") derives from the
presence of a thorn allegedly part of the crown
dressed by Christ on the Cross, brought here in
1333.
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Following the Arno River embankments, typical
medieval Tuscan civil buildings
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The name of Pisa signifies meadowland or delta,
it is situated near the confluence of two rivers,
The Arno and the Serchio.
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Pisa is on the banks of the river Arno. Walking
along the banks of the Arno river is a really
pleasant experience
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Pisa is known as Europes most ancient maritime
city and has always kept alive the Ibero-Ligurian
name given it by its founders
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On the night of the 16th of June of every year
the enchantment of the Luminara of Saint Ranieri
is renewed on the streets running along the river
Arno in Pisa.
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Pisans celebrate their patron saint, St. Ranieri,
on June 17th, but the Luminara begins on the
previous day.
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About 70.000 wax candles meticulously set in
glasses and fixed to wooden white-panted frames
(the so called "biancheria") are modelled in such
a way to exalt the outline of the palaces, the
bridges, the churches and the tower reflecting
the river.
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In 1871 the church was dismantled and rebuilt on
a higher level due to dangerous inflitration of
water from the Arno river the church was
slightly altered in the process, however.
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The spiked turrets on the church roof commemorate
the relic
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The exterior appearance is marked by cusps,
tympani and tabernacles, together with a
complicated sculpture decoration with tarsiae,
rose-windows and numerous statues from the main
Pisane artists of the 14th century. These include
Lupo di Francesco, Andrea Pisano with his sons
Nino and Tommaso, and Giovanni di Balduccio.
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The Thorn, one of the most precious relics for
Christians, was preserved in Santa Maria della
Spina Church since 1333, but it was later moved
to Santa Chiara's in the XIX century.
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TextInternet Pictures Daniela Iacob All 
copyrights  belong to their  respective owners
Presentation Sanda Foisoreanu
2011
Sound Edoardo Vianello - O Mio
Signore Ave María
Luciano Pavarotti