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San Piero a Grado Basilica: A Pisan Romanesque Jewel

Discover the Basilica di San Piero a Grado in Pisa: where St. Peter landed, and Pisan Romanesque architecture inspires.

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The Basilica di San Piero a Grado, located a few kilometers west of Pisa, is a significant example of Pisan Romanesque architecture. Legend holds that St. Peter landed here in 44 A.D., marking it as one of Italy's earliest Christian sites. The basilica features a unique design, historical frescoes, and remnants of its storied past.

A brief summary to San Piero a Grado

Local tips

  • Visit during the Christmas season to witness the living nativity scene, a cherished local tradition.
  • Explore the interior to view the recently restored fresco cycle by Deodato Orlandi, showcasing portraits of early popes.
  • Note the unique architectural design, including the unusual presence of apses on both the eastern and western sides.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Pisa Centrale Station, take a bus towards San Piero a Grado. Several bus lines connect the city center with the frazione. A single 70-minute ticket costs approximately €1.70 and can be purchased at newsagents, grocery stores, or via the AT Bus mobile app. The bus will drop you off near the church.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Pisa. A taxi ride from Pisa city center to San Piero a Grado will take approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. Expect to pay around €25-€35 for the trip. Ensure the meter is running or negotiate the fare beforehand.

  • Walking

    While walking from Pisa city center is not recommended due to the distance (approximately 7km), you can walk from the nearby Marina di Pisa. From Marina di Pisa, follow the coastal road (Via Vecchia di Marina) for approximately 30-40 minutes. The basilica will be on your left. Note that there are limited pedestrian paths along certain stretches of this road.

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Discover more about San Piero a Grado

The Basilica di San Piero a Grado, found in the eponymous frazione a few kilometers west of Pisa, stands as a testament to both religious history and architectural innovation. According to tradition, this site marks where St. Peter first landed in Italy in 44 A.D. after traveling from Antiochia. This event makes it a place of immense significance in Christian history. Originally built in the 11th century on the remains of a Paleo-Christian temple from the 4th-5th centuries, the basilica showcases a distinctive Pisan-Romanesque style. Constructed with tuff stone and white marble sourced from Roman ruins, the exterior is adorned with pilaster strips, blind arches, and ceramic basins of Islamic, Majorcan, and Sicilian origin. Unusually, the basilica features apses on both its eastern and western ends, with the main entrance located on the northern side. The original bell tower, dating back to the 12th century, was destroyed during World War II, with only its base currently rebuilt. Inside, the basilica is divided into a nave and two aisles by antique columns with classical capitals. The walls of the nave feature a large, recently restored fresco cycle by Deodato Orlandi, depicting portraits of popes from St. Peter to John XVIII. The frescoes also illustrate scenes from the lives of St. Peter, St. Paul, Constantine, and St. Sylvester. A Gothic ciborium marks the spot where St. Peter is said to have first prayed. Today, the Basilica of San Piero a Grado is recognized as a “Monument Messenger of Peace” by UNESCO Clubs.

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