Santa Maria della Spina is a small Gothic church in Pisa, one of the most outstanding Gothic edifices of Europe.

Along the Arno River one sees the beautiful buildings of Pisa with the hills of Tuscany in the background.

The church, erected in 1230 by Gualandi family, was originally known as Santa Maria di Pontenovo: the new name of Spina ("thorn") derives from the presence of a thorn allegedly part of the crown dressed by Christ on the Cross, brought here in 1333.

Following the Arno River embankments, typical medieval Tuscan civil buildings

The name of Pisa signifies meadowland or delta, it is situated near the confluence of two rivers, The Arno and the Serchio.

Pisa is on the banks of the river Arno. Walking along the banks of the Arno river is a really pleasant experience

Pisa is known as Europe’s most ancient maritime city and has always kept alive the Ibero-Ligurian name given it by its founders

On the night of the 16th of June of every year the enchantment of the Luminara of Saint Ranieri is renewed on the streets running along the river Arno in Pisa.

Pisans celebrate their patron saint, St. Ranieri, on June 17th, but the Luminara begins on the previous day.

About 70.000 wax candles meticulously set in glasses and fixed to wooden white-panted frames (the so called "biancheria") are modelled in such a way to exalt the outline of the palaces, the bridges, the churches and the tower reflecting the river.

In 1871 the church was dismantled and rebuilt on a higher level due to dangerous inflitration of water from the Arno river: the church was slightly altered in the process, however.

The spiked turrets on the church roof commemorate the relic

The exterior appearance is marked by cusps, tympani and tabernacles, together with a complicated sculpture decoration with tarsiae, rose-windows and numerous statues from the main Pisane artists of the 14th century. These include Lupo di Francesco, Andrea Pisano with his sons Nino and Tommaso, and Giovanni di Balduccio.

The Thorn, one of the most precious relics for Christians, was preserved in Santa Maria della Spina Church since 1333, but it was later moved to Santa Chiara's in the XIX century.

Sound: Edoardo Vianello - O Mio Signore

Ave María – Luciano Pavarotti

Text:Internet

Pictures: Daniela IacobAll  copyrights  belong to their  respective owners

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuhttps://plus.google.com/+SandaMichaela

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