Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) is universally famous for its iconic Leaning Tower, but this UNESCO World Heritage site is home to much more. While the Cathedral, Baptistery, and Camposanto Monumentale draw the crowds, the area also features two essential museums—the Museo delle Sinopie and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo —that offer profound insights into the complex’s artistic and spiritual history. A visit to these smaller institutions is crucial for any traveler looking to fully appreciate the artistic heritage of the square, solidifying its place as a center of medieval Italian art.
Sinopie Museum: A hidden treasure
The Museo delle Sinopie is perhaps the most unique of the Piazza dei Miracoli’s attractions. Housed in the medieval Spedale Nuovo (New Hospital), it preserves the monumental preparatory drawings, known as sinopie, for the massive frescoes that once decorated the walls of the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery).
A sinopia is the initial, reddish-brown underdrawing executed directly onto the wall before the final fresco layer is applied. These drawings were revealed when the frescoes were carefully detached (or ‘strappoed’) after the severe damage caused by Allied bombings in 1944.
The museum’s collection is the only one of its kind in the world, offering a raw and intimate look into the creative process of medieval masters like Bonamico Buffalmacco and Benozzo Gozzoli. Visitors can compare their styles, witnessing the artists’ first expressive gestures and original genius before the final color and detail were added. It’s a rare chance to see the scaffolding of medieval art, connecting you directly to the hands that shaped Pisa’s spiritual narrative.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo: Art and Spirituality
The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo serves as the repository for the most precious artifacts and original sculptures removed from the Cathedral and Baptistery for conservation. Located in the former residence of the canons, the museum preserves the historical memory of the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, the institution responsible for the construction and maintenance of the monumental complex.
The collection features original Roman and medieval sculptures, including exquisite works by Giovanni Pisano and Nicola Pisano, whose masterpieces were essential to the development of Italian Gothic sculpture. Highlights include the magnificent bronze doors of the Baptistery, preserved indoors to protect them from environmental damage, and a rich display of sacred vestments, illuminated manuscripts, and the famed “Ivory Madonna with Child” by Giovanni Pisano.
The museum also offers a stunning view of the Leaning Tower from its cloister, making it a perfect spot to reflect on the architectural and artistic feats of the museums in Piazza dei Miracoli. It is a journey through the materials, the worship, and the craftsmanship that have defined this miraculous corner of Tuscany for centuries.