Description of the attraction
The National Museum of San Matteo, located in the building of the medieval monastery of the same name in Pisa on the banks of the Arno River, contains invaluable collections of works by leading Pisa and Tuscan artists of the 12-17th centuries, as well as a unique collection of archaeological artifacts and ceramics. San Matteo is one of the most important European museums dedicated to the history of the Middle Ages.
The cycle of the so-called "Crochi dipinte" - painted crosses - is a collection of crosses from the 12th and 13th centuries, collected in the most ancient churches of Pisa. Here you can see the creations of Berlingiero Berlingieri, Giunto Pisano and the Master of San Martino.
The 14-15th century art section displays works by Francesco di Traino, Lippo Menni, Buonamico Buffalmacco, Spinello Aretino, Taddeo di Bartolo and other great artists of the time. Noteworthy are the glazed earthenware of the Della Robbia school and the well-known bust of San Lussorio by Donatello.
Among the masterpieces of Pisa sculpture from the 12th and 15th centuries on display in the museum are the polyptych by Simone Martini from the Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, The Nativity of Christ by Tino di Camaino and Madonna del Latte by the brothers Andrea and Nino Pisano.
San Matteo also houses some priceless bas-reliefs and wooden sculptures, notably the work of the 13-14th century master from Siena Francesco di Valdambrino. Of particular interest are facial manuscripts from the 12th to 14th centuries, including an illustrated Bible dating from 1168. Finally, it is in this museum that you can see the remarkable collection of medieval Islamic ceramic elements that once adorned the outer walls of the churches of Pisa - they are a kind of monument to the trading industry that flourished between the Maritime Republic of Pisa and the North African countries in the past.
