Pisa Cathedral

Pisa Cathedral is a Romanesque masterpiece begun in 1064, reportedly funded by spoils from a Pisan naval victory over Arab forces in Sicily. Clad entirely in white and grey Carrara marble and articulated by four tiers of delicate blind arcading, it defined the Pisan Romanesque style that would go on to influence Florentine architecture. Though the adjacent Leaning Tower draws most eyes, it serves as the cathedral's campanile and belongs to the same ensemble on the Piazza dei Miracoli — a name coined by poet Gabriele d'Annunzio in the 20th century. Inside, a gilded coffered ceiling and Giovanni Pisano's bronze pulpit compete for attention alongside a hanging lamp whose swing reportedly inspired Galileo Galilei's formulation of the pendulum law. Admission to the cathedral itself is free, and the entire site is wheelchair accessible.