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| THE INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL |
| The double aisles of the stately interior are marked by plain granite columns with Corinthian capitals. The upper galleries on either side of the nave, called matronei, were reserved for female worshippers.The striped marble facing repeats the pattern of the exterior decoration and adds a lively coloristic note to the solemn procession of arches along the aisles and matronei. Towering over the crossing of the aisled transept and the nave is the dome which rests upon Arab-style pointed arches. The PULPIT in the nave, sculpted by Giovanni Pisano between 1302 and 1310, is universally considered the master's finest work and ranks as ne of the greatest sculptures of the Italian Gothic. Dismantled after a fire in 1599, it was recomposed and placed in its present location in 1926. Unlike the earlier versions of carved pulpits which were polygonal, Giovanni's is practically round. The pulpit proper is supported by allegorical statues and columns, two |  |
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of which rest on crouching lions. The statues in the middle are personifications of Theological Virtues. The sculpted panels around the side are New testament scenes, skillfully rendered to exploit the maximum of dramatic tension. The scenes, each of which is animated by a host of gesticulating figures, represent the Birth of Christ, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of Magi, the Presentations of the Temple, the Flight into Egypt, the Slaughter of the Innocents, the Kiss of Judas, the Crucifixion and the Last Judgement. In the center of the nave is a 16th century chandelier, popularly known as Galileo's Lamp since, according to tradition, the great pisan scientist figured out the law of pendulum movement by observing it swinging bak ad forth. At the far end of the righthand transept is the CHAPEL of S. RANIERI, inside of which is an containing St. Ranieri's relics. Above is a 15th century Sienese mosaic of a Virgin in Glory |
| In the left aisle is the TOMB of the EMPEROR of Luxembourg,
HAROLD VII, the "alto Arrigo" (tall Harry) mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy.
The tomb of the Emperor, who died in Buonconvento near Siena, was sculpted by the 14th
century master, Tino da Camaino. Below the figure of the emperor is a frieze with the 12
apostles. The two angels in the niche were frescoed in the 1400s by Ghirlandaio. The huge figure of Christ enthroned between the Virgin and St. John the Evangelist wholly dominates the choir zone of the church. |