Description of the attraction
San Nicola is a church in Pisa, the first mention of which dates back to 1097. Together with her, the nearby monastery is mentioned in the same source. In 1297-1313, the Augustinian monks expanded the church, possibly by the architect Giovanni Pisano. In the 17th century, the building of San Nicola was restored with the addition of new altars and the construction of the Chapel of the Holy Gifts. The last one was erected in 1614 by Matteo Nigetti.
The facade of the church is decorated with pilasters without capitals, blind arches and diamond-shaped figures. 12th century wood inlay can also be seen here. Inside the temple are panels with images of the Madonna and Child (14th century) by Matteo Traini and Saint Nicholas saving Pisa from the plague epidemic (15th century), canvases by Giovanni Stefano Marucelli and Giovanni Biliverti, "The Crucifixion" by Giovanni Pisano, another Madonna and Child, this time by Nino Pisano, and the Annunciation by Francesco di Valdambrino.
A covered passage connects the church with the Torre de Cantone tower and with the Palazzo delle Vedove - with the help of it, noble ladies from the Medici family who lived in the palace could get into the church without leaving the street. The octagonal bell tower, the second most popular in Pisa after the famous Leaning Tower, was most likely built in 1170. It is not known for certain who was its architect, but there is reason to believe that Diotisalvi worked on the bell tower. Initially, the bell tower was separated from the buildings adjacent to it. It also slopes slightly - its foundations are below the current street level. The lower part of the bell tower is decorated with blind arches with diamond-shaped figures. The multi-colored effect is created due to the use of stones from different places in the construction.
A few words should also be said about the aforementioned Palazzo delle Vedova, which stands next to the Church of San Nicola. The name of the palace, built in the 12-14 centuries, translates as the Widow's Palace. Medieval features are still visible in its exterior, such as marble vaulted windows. In the 16th century, the Palazzo was significantly changed and began to be used as the "residence" of the Medici widows.
