am torqueis aureis decoravit.
Ecclesia Sanctorum Apostolorum in altari inclusa est laminea
plumbea, in qua descripta apparet praefacta fundatio et consecratio
facta per Archiepiscopum Turpinum, testibus Rolando et Uliverio.
The edifice of the Duomo at Pisa gave a new impulse to the minds of
many men in all Italy, and especially in Tuscany, and led to the
foundation in the city of Pistoia in 1032 of the church of S. Paolo,
in the presence of S. Atto, the bishop there, as a contemporary deed
relates, and indeed of many other buildings, a mere mention of which
would occupy too much space.
I must not forget to mention either, how in the course of time the
round church of S. Giovanni was erected at Pisa in the year 1060,
opposite the Duomo and on the same piazza. A marvellous and almost
incredible statement in connection with this church is that of an
ancient record in a book of the Opera of the Duomo, that the columns,
pillars and vaulting were erected and completed in fifteen days and
no more. The same book, which may be examined by any one, relates
that an impost of a penny a hearth was exacted for the building of
the temple, but it does not state whether this was to be of gold or
of base metal. The same book states that there were 34,000 hearths in
Pisa at that time. It is certain that the work was very costly and
presented formidable difficulties, especially the vaulting of the
tribune, which is pear-shaped and covered outside with lead. The
exterior is full of columns, carving, scenes, and the middle part of
the frieze of the doorway contains figures of Christ and the twelve
apostles in half-relief and in the Byzantine style.
About the same time, namely in 1061, the Lucchese, in emulation of
the Pisans, began the church of S. Martino at Lucea, from the designs
of some pupils of Buschetto, there being no other artists then in
Tuscany. The facade has a marble portico in front of it containing
many ornaments and carvings in honour of Pope Alexander II., who had
been bishop of the city just before he was raised to the pontificate.
Nine lines in Latin relate the whole history of the facade and of the
Pope, repeated in some antique letters carved in marble inside the
doors of the portico. The facade also contains some figures and a
number of scenes in half-relief below the portico relating to the
life of St Martin executed in marble and in the Byzantine style. But
the best things there, over one of these doors, w
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