The Cathedral of Pisa is a tangible evidence of the prestige that the Maritime Republic reached the moment of its greatest splendor. Its construction began in 1064, coinciding with the reconstruction of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice; it is likely that between the two cities was born a tacit competition on creating the most beautiful and sumptuous place of worship. During the nineteenth century sculptures they have been replaced by copies and are now kept in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
