“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
~ Saint Augustine
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| Entering Pisa on the Arno River |
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| Base of the Tower |
We
enter Pisa as people did in the middle ages .. going up the river
toward town. Pisa was a much more
important city in 9th century Italy than Florence because of it is a
Port city. Our guide said the
Crusade actually started from Pisa.
When the Medici started to take control in Italy, they switched the power seat
from Pisa to Florence. In the issuing power struggle, these two
city states were at war during the Renaissance. It is one reason why there is no Renaissance art works in Pisa
.. it was too dangerous for artists to live there and try to produce something creative.
Of
course Pisa is best known for its bell tower .. you know, the one that
leans. The Cathedral was built in 1064 and was
the largest at that time and then the
Baptistry was built about 1153 within the city wall.
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| Pisa |
The
bell tower itself (the “leaning tower”) was started 1172 to 1178 and built up
to three stories but then stopped until 1273 because it already had started to
sink. The architect who designed the local graveyard (not like those in the US, but with designed grounds and architectural structures) Giovanni de Salmone, was
employed to complete the tower. The foundation was reinforced and the porticoes and columns on the sinking side were built taller that the other in an attempt to
visually straighten it out. This gives the tower a slightly curved shape. In 1935 it lost 3mm in
two hours as they worked to fortify the base under orders from Mussolini. By 1990 it had sunk a total 5m32cm. At that time they tried using liquid nitrogen
to strengthen the ground underneath but that caused the iron columns, that
Mussolini had had installed, to contract. The tower shook. It was finally discovered that the structure is built between an old riverbed and an artificial Roman canal. Built upon the most unstable ground
possible! 2000 injections of inflatable concrete are now wedged in to
stabilize tower. Surprisingly during all this it was the dry stone
base that saved the tower during centuries of rainy and dry seasons, and it was the
soft, sandy soil that caused the sinking that actually allowed it to withstand
earthquakes.
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| Palma Castle Tower |
Our cruise also stops for day visits at Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca. No tours for me there but wanderings
with friends. Petra and I rent
electric bicycles in Palma and spend a beautiful free day exploring the hilltop
castle and riding the amazing bike trails along the beach. About 15km away from the port we
enjoy a swim at the beautiful beach and sea before returning to the ship.
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| Cartegena coast |
The last full day at sea it is calm,
so calm. There is no land in sight.
A striking sunrise greets me in the morning. Air that is perfection: temperature, movement, and
humidity.
Finally, I have a few
moments to myself to pause and reflect, away from all the varied activities and
wonderful new friends. I see two
pods of dolphins – and hope for a whale (to no avail). A tiny sparrow has followed the ship
and I'm sure must now stay with us so far out to sea. How can it find anything
to eat to eat? The crew keeps the place so clean. But with landfall the
following day, it will be fine.
Just a bit of a cruise with us.
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| Palma de Mallorca: bikes and cathedral with Petra |
Facebook Photo Albums: Cartegena, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa:
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