Is entrance to the Camposanto Monumentale free?

Entrance to the Camposanto Monumentale is not free and currently requires a ticket costing 7 EUR per person. However, buying this ticket is a smart move because it automatically grants you free access to the Cathedral, which otherwise requires a timed reservation.

Is the Camposanto in Pisa worth visiting?

Visiting the Camposanto is absolutely worth it if you want to escape the crowds and experience the artistic soul of Pisa beyond the Leaning Tower. It offers a rare combination of peaceful atmosphere, stunning Gothic architecture, and the incredible Triumph of Death fresco that you simply cannot see anywhere else.

How much time do you need to see Camposanto Pisa?

You should plan to spend about 30 to 45 minutes to leisurely walk through the corridors and appreciate the frescoes and sarcophagi. If you are an art enthusiast who wants to study the details of the Last Judgement fresco or read the history of the Roman tombs, allowing up to an hour would be perfect.

Why is the soil in Camposanto Pisa considered special?

Legend says that the soil in the inner courtyard was brought directly from Golgotha, the hill where Jesus was crucified, by Crusaders returning to Pisa in the 12th century. Because of this sacred earth, people believed that bodies buried here would miraculously decompose in just 24 hours.

Is there a dress code for visiting Camposanto?

Since the Camposanto is a sacred Catholic cemetery, you are expected to dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees during your visit. If you are visiting in the hot summer of 2026, we recommend carrying a light scarf or shawl that you can easily wrap around yourself before entering.

Where is the statue of Fibonacci located in Pisa?

The statue of the famous mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci is located inside the western corridor of the Camposanto Monumentale. After being moved around the city for years, it has found its permanent home here, so you can easily pay your respects to the man behind the famous number sequence.

Can you take photos inside the Camposanto Monumentale?

You are allowed to take photos inside the Camposanto for personal use, but using flash, selfie sticks, or tripods is strictly forbidden to protect the artworks and maintain the quiet atmosphere. The natural light coming through the large Gothic windows provides excellent lighting for photography without the need for flash.

What is the best ticket option for visiting Camposanto?

The best value option is usually the combined ticket for 10 EUR, which includes the Camposanto, Baptistery, and museums. This allows you to see the Sinopie Museum, where the preliminary sketches of the Camposanto frescoes are kept, giving you a complete picture of the art history here.

Camposanto Monumentale Pisa: Tickets, Frescoes & History

You are standing in the Square of Miracles, surrounded by thousands of tourists trying to hold up the Leaning Tower. The noise is overwhelming. But just a few steps away, behind a long white marble wall, lies a completely different world. Silence, art, and a strange sense of peace await you here. Welcome to the Camposanto Monumentale, the most underrated part of the Pisa complex.

Most visitors skip this place because they don't know what lies inside. We are not just talking about a cemetery; this is an open-air museum where history whispers from the walls. Legends say the soil here is sacred, and the frescoes you will see are as impressive as the tower itself. Let's step inside together and discover why this Holy Field is the soul of Pisa.

Interior view of Camposanto Monumentale in Pisa featuring white Gothic arches and a green central courtyard

The serene inner courtyard offers a peaceful escape from the crowds of the Square of Miracles.

Practical Information for Visitors

Before we get into the legends and art, let's sort out the logistics. You don't want to waste time in line when you could be admiring medieval masterpieces.

Entrance Fee & Combined Tickets

If you only want to visit the Camposanto, the single ticket costs 7 EUR. However, we strongly recommend the Complete Visit option. For just 10 EUR, you get access to the Camposanto, the Baptistery, the Sinopie Museum, and the Opera del Duomo Museum. Considering the wealth of art inside, this is a steal in 2026.

Important: The entrance to the Cathedral is free, but you still need a ticket. If you buy a ticket for the Camposanto, you automatically get a free pass for the Cathedral at any time.

Opening Hours & Best Time to Visit

The gates usually open at 09:00 and close between 17:00 and 20:00, depending on the season. The best time to visit is right at the opening or late in the afternoon. While the crowds rush to the tower in the middle of the day, you can enjoy the Gothic cloisters in solitude during these off-peak hours.

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Sunlight casting shadows through Gothic arches onto the marble floor of the Camposanto cloister

The play of light and shadow through the Gothic tracery creates a mystical atmosphere.

How to Get There

From Pisa Centrale station, you have two good options. You can take the LAM Rossa bus and get off at the Torre stop, or you can enjoy a 20-minute walk through the city center, crossing the Arno River. We prefer walking; it gives you a chance to see the real Pisa beyond the tourist traps.

Why is it Called Holy Field? (The Legend)

This is not your ordinary burial ground. The name Campo Santo literally means Holy Field, and there is a fascinating reason for it. Legend has it that in the 12th century, during the Fourth Crusade, the Archbishop of Pisa, Ubaldo Lanfranchi, returned from the Holy Land with a very special cargo.

He brought back shiploads of sacred soil from Golgotha, the hill where Jesus was crucified. They spread this earth over the burial ground where the Camposanto now stands. The local belief was quite intense: they said that bodies buried in this holy soil would decompose in just 24 hours. While we can't test that theory today, walking on this ground definitely feels different knowing its history.

Masterpieces You Must See: The Frescoes

The walls of Camposanto were once covered in more than 2,000 square meters of frescoes, earning it the nickname The Sistine Chapel of Pisa. Sadly, a bomb fragment during World War II caused a fire that melted the lead roof and severely damaged these artworks. But thanks to a massive restoration project finished recently, you can now see them in their original glory.

The Triumph of Death

This is the star of the show. Painted by Buffalmacco in the 14th century, The Triumph of Death is terrifying and captivating at the same time. You see young nobles enjoying a hunting trip, only to be stopped by three open coffins containing rotting corpses. It is a brutal reminder of Memento Mori - remember that you will die.

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Look closely at the details: angels and demons are fighting for the souls of the dead. The demons are dragging souls to hell, while angels try to save them. It is storytelling at its finest.

The Last Judgement and Hell

Right next to the Triumph of Death, you face the Last Judgement. The depiction of Hell here is chaotic and gruesome. If you are a fan of literature, you will immediately notice the connection to Dante Alighieri's works. The way sinners are punished mirrors the descriptions in the Divine Comedy. Speaking of which, if you are planning to explore more about the poet's life, you might want to check on the Dante House Museum in Florence after your Pisa trip.

The Last Judgement fresco in Camposanto Pisa depicting scenes of Hell and demons

The chaotic and gruesome depiction of Hell, clearly inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy.

The Pantheon of Pisa: Sarcophagi & Tombs

As you walk through the corridors, you are literally walking over history. The floor is paved with the tombstones of nobles, and the hallways are lined with ancient Roman sarcophagi. There are currently 84 Roman sarcophagi here, a collection that was reused by prominent Pisan families in the Middle Ages.

Long corridor in Camposanto Monumentale lined with ancient Roman sarcophagi

Walking through history: Ancient Roman sarcophagi line the corridors.

Leonardo Fibonacci’s Statue

Yes, that Fibonacci. The mathematical genius who introduced the sequence that bears his name (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5...) was born in Pisa. For a long time, his statue was moved around the city, but it has finally found its home here in the Camposanto. You can find him in the western corridor. It is a quiet spot to pay respects to the man who changed the way we count.

Marble statue of the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci inside Camposanto Monumentale

The statue of Leonardo Fibonacci, the genius who introduced the famous number sequence.

Hidden Gems Inside the Cloister

Don't just look at the walls; there are other treasures hiding in plain sight.

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The Chains of Porto Pisano

Hanging heavily on the wall, you will see massive iron chains. These are not just decoration. They are the broken chains of the ancient Port of Pisa. In 1284, after the crushing defeat at the Battle of Meloria, the rival city of Genoa took these chains as a trophy to humiliate Pisa. They were only returned after the unification of Italy hundreds of years later. Seeing them here is a powerful symbol of the city's rise and fall as a maritime republic.

The ancient chains of Porto Pisano hanging on the wall of Camposanto Monumentale

The chains of the ancient Port of Pisa, a trophy of war returned centuries later.

Galileo Galilei’s Lamp

Inside the Aulla Chapel, you see a votive lamp. Legend says this is the lamp that a young Galileo watched swinging in the Cathedral, which inspired his theory of the pendulum. However, we have to be the ones to break the myth: the actual lamp Galileo saw is smaller and still in the Cathedral. The one here is beautiful, but it was cast a few years after his discovery. Still, it makes for a great story!

Is Camposanto Monumentale Worth Visiting?

If you appreciate silence, history, and art, the answer is a resounding yes. While the Leaning Tower is a fun photo op, the Camposanto is where you connect with the city's past. It offers a cool retreat from the summer heat and a break from the noise. In our opinion, leaving Pisa without seeing the Triumph of Death is like going to Paris and skipping the Louvre.

So, grab that combined ticket, step into the shade of the cloister, and let the history of Pisa surround you.

Camposanto Monumentale Pisa: History, Tickets & Frescoes