The Trinity

             “The Trinity"

By

J.L. Gupta

            Italy is not merely the land of Fiat and Ferrari. Or of pizza and pasta. It is a treasure trove. Every city offers a slice of history. Each stone has a story to tell. And it does not take long to discover it.

         In the morning, the cruise ship was docked. At a short distance from the port. A ferry took us to the shore. The port was the city of Livorno in district Tuscany. It seemed to be a busy commercial centre. However, we boarded the bus for Pisa - the birth place of Galileo. After weaving our way through some streets, we were on the highway. No six lanes. Just a dual carriageway. But the traffic was very orderly. Nobody honked. None changed the lane without giving a proper indication. Everyone was fast. Yet, nobody seemed to be rash or in a rush.

The drive was good. There was a lot of greenery all through. No plastic. No slums anywhere. It virtually seemed as if we were passing through a forest. There was a refreshing freshness about the environment. A distinct scent in the air. In an hour, we had reached our destination. We were in Pisa. A city in the central part of Italy.

The first impression was like that of a small Indian town. The people were mostly moving on cycles. After a short walk through what may be compared to the Chandni Chowk in Delhi, we turned left. And as we moved, the sight was superb. Really breathtaking. Just fascinating. It is vividly etched in memory.

                         

  The Holy Trinity – of the Baptistery, the Cathedral, and the Bell Tower, commonly known as the leaning Tower of Pisa. In what may seem like white marble with a touch of grey and blue. Each, a work of art. Individually, each is as majestic as the other.

 

The Baptistery is round in shape. It has a big dome at the top. The guide told us that the "acoustics are said to hold a sung note for minutes." He tried to prove it with the clap of his hands. He was right. The Cathedral is a huge structure. It had taken about 29 years to build it. It houses Giovanni Pisano's ornate pulpit and "swath of Gothic reliefs."

Then, there is the Tower of Pisa. It is leaning about sixteen feet. Still, it is stable.

                                         

 When were these built? The guide could not give a definite answer. But he did tell us that the Cathedral and the Baptistery were decorated by distinguished sculptors. Guglielmo Pisano had made the Cathedral’s first pulpit in the year 1162. The bronze doors were sculpted by Bonanno Pisano in 1180. And Nicola Pisano had carved the Baptistery pulpit in the year 1260. The existing pulpit in the Cathedral is from Nicola’s son. He was certain that all the three were ‘very very old.’

         But the buildings do not betray their age. Because these are well maintained. Restoration is a continuing process. It was going on. And these are kept clean. There was not a speck of dust on any stone, door or wall.  Not an extra blade of grass or a weed in any of the lawns. The whole place looked neat. Spick and span. It was beautiful.

The roads are narrow. Yet, the traffic is always on the move. The greenery is good. The trinity of the Baptistery, Cathedral and the Tower presents a spectacular sight. No wonder, the tourists come in large numbers. From far and near. Irrespective of their age.

I came back with a wish. We should also keep our monuments as the Europeans do. Shall we? Hopefully! Some good men & women from amongst us shall try to preserve the past for the future.

(Photos by the author with Sony Cyber Shot)