Pisa, part 3

Of course the reason that Pisa looks the way it does today is because of WWII. The historic bridges across the Arno river were destroyed, as were most in Florence. The Pisan bridges were of course rebuilt, but non has the flavor of history.

Throughout the historic city of Pisa one is reminded of the war, as in this sign below, that talks about how the hospital of Santa Chiara was the site of the Resistance. I am not well informed enough about WWII to talk with certainty about Pisa and the Resistance, but this sign tells us that Giuseppe Toniolo was instrumental in helping refugees and injured people during the war.

In Rome you see the SPQR signs in the pavement. In Pisa you see this distinctive emblem.

Along the Lungarno are embedded a few plaques. The left one commemorates Giuseppe Garibaldi and the right one the Pisan presence of the English Romantic poets, Shelley and Byron.

In Pisa, as is other Italian towns and villages I have visited, one finds these posters informing the neighborhood of the death of some fellow citizens. Pisa lost Flora, Alessandra, Marcello and Giuseppe recently. These posters are a charming if sad element to local life.

The door knock below speaks for itself.

I hadn’t actually planned to visit the Piazza dei Miracoli on this particular visit to Pisa, but I found myself walking toward this splendid architectural ensemble almost without realizing it. Of course the bell tower, cathedral and baptistry were all still closed, thanks to Covid, but I enjoyed wandering around them in the warm February sunshine. I will always remember Covid, and the restrictions and fear it brought, but I think that in the future I might remember fondly the direct experiences I was able to have with some Italian art as result of the lack of people.

I always remember the neon green grass found in Pisa. No where else in Italy are there fields of so well cared for green grass. It makes me think of the USA.