Museo delle Sinopie Pisa: What to See, Reviews, Tickets

Hello, are you planning to visit Pisa and looking for more information about the wonderful Museo delle Sinopie? You have come to the right place.

In this post let’s find out together the description of the Museum, its history and what is preserved inside it. We will see the meaning of the word “synopia” and what are the timetables when you can visit this museum, the indications for getting there, and the prices of tickets to visit it.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Wait. Before we start with the article, a quick tip: you should know that to access the different attractions in Piazza dei Miracoli you will risk running into a long queue at the ticket office. To get inside the attractions by skipping the line at the entrance without losing useful time to visit the beautiful city of Pisa, it is always recommended to purchase your ticket online. Click below to book your entrance and get inside the Museum of the Sinopias of Pisa in an instant.

What is the Museo delle Sinopie in Pisa

Located in Piazza Dei Miracoli,the Museo delle Sinopie was created to collect the sinopites of the frescoes in the Pisa Camposanto that were severely damaged after the bombings of World War II. 

But what are synopias? The sinopies constitute the first step in the process of making a fresco. It is a preparatory drawing that is traced on the first layer of plaster.

Generally a red pigment called earth of Sinope, city on the Black Sea, (hence the name) is used. These preparatory drawings were later replaced by the dusting technique.

The sinopites were prepared by Renaissance artists such as Buffalmacco, Traini, Di Puccio, Gozzoli and others, and served as guides for the creation of the frescoes.

The Museo delle Sinopie houses the sinopites of the frescoes of the Camposanto Monumental Cemetery, which once covered the wallsof the monumental cemetery.

The sinopias, unlike the frescoes, were preserved.

In addition to the sinopias, the museum houses the engravings of Gian Paolo Lasinio.

Visit to the Sinopie Museum: what to see

Inside the Museum you will be able to see the sinopies of the frescoes preserved in the Camposanto and in particular the works of Buffalmacco, Andrea Bonaiuti, Antonio Veneziano, Spinello Aretino, Taddeo Gaddi, Piero di Puccio, Benozzo Gozzoli. 

The setting up

The visit path will guide you through the historical vicissitudes of the Cemetery to discover what a sinopia is and why this artistic artifact represents an important historical-artistic testimony.

The path opens with the Christological stories, the first works to be painted in Camposanto, displayed together with the last works from the chronological point of view, the stories painted by Piero di Puccio and Benozzo Gozzoli.

On the mezzanine floor are placed scenes from the Thrionph of Death and the Stories of the Saints.

Also on the upper floor of the building is a collection of prints by Carlo Lasinio, master of carving at the Florence Academy. 

Lasinio visited the Cemetery in 1806 and was impressed by the frescoesexhibited, he decided to portray them, and his works allow us to preserve a testimony of what was the state of preservation and degradation of the frescoes at the time.

Museum History

The museum is currently housed in the ancient Spedale Nuovo, a large medieval brick building.

The building was built in the XIII century at the behest of Pope Alexander IV, designed by architect Giovanni Di Simone and initially intended for the “refuge of pilgrims.” 

In 1969 the hospital stopped being a place to receive the sick and changed its function, it was renovated by architects Gaetano Nencini and Giovanna Piancastelli and housed the sinopies of the Cemetery.

In fact, in 1944 during the World War II an Allied bombing set fire to the metal roof of the Cemetery, which melted and dripped onto the frescoes, severely damaging them.

In order to preserve and save the frescoes, it was decided to remove them from the walls of the Cemetery through the technique of “tearing,” which revealed the underlying preparatory drawings: the sinopites.

In 1979, the Museum of the Sinopias was opened to the public to preserve and display the sinopias of the Monumental Cemetery frescoes.

In these prototypical ancient hospitals, pilgrims received care for a healing that was more spiritual than physical. 

The medieval hospital was a facility dedicated to welcoming the sick and the pilgrim in a Christian view of salvation of the soul. 

The staff was generally religious and unskilled. Not infrequently, the facilities had an interior garden where the friars could grow medicines for the sick.

Useful information: schedules, prices, how to get there

Where is the Sinopie Museum located? What are the hours of operation? And what is the best time to visit the museum? Let’s find out together.

Where it is located and how to get to the Sinopie Museum

The Museo delle Sinopie is located in Piazza Dei Miracoli, opposite Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Camposanto, and the Leaning Tower.

GPS coordinates are 43° 43′ 21.59″ N, 10° 23′ 45.59″ E.

By train

If you arrive by train, you will need to exit at the piazza in front of Pisa Central Station: Piazza della Stazione. 

From the Station, different routes are possible to reach Piazza Dei Miracoli. 

I recommend a quick but scenic route to immerse yourself quickly in the heart of Pisa:

• Cross Station Square and proceed straight to the roundabout, go straight on again and cross Vittorio Emanuele Square. 
• Drive along Corso Italia until it enters Via di Banchi. 
• Continue on Via di Banchi until you see the Arno in front of you. 
• Cross the Middle Bridge and on the right you will find Garibaldi Square. 
• Drive along Garibaldi Square to an intersection, take Borgo Stretto. 
• Walk along Borgo Stretto until you find Via Ulisse Dini on your left, which will take you to Piazza Dei Cavalieri. In Piazza Dei Cavalieri you will find the Normale di Pisa, one of the most famous universities of excellence in Italy, also a plaque commemorates the tower where Count Ugolino and his sons were imprisoned, as written by Dante Alighieri in the Divina Commedia. 
• Starting from the square walk Via Corsica to Piazza Francesco Buonamici. 
• Continue on Via Dei mille to Piazza Felice Cavallotti. 
• You will arrive on Santa Maria Street, turn right. Here you will be able to find numerous restaurants and bars. Walk down Via Santa Maria and you will arrive in Piazza Dei Miracoli. 

The Museo delle Sinopie is located just ahead on your left.

By car

If you plan to get to Pisa by car, you can take the highway exit Pisa Centro and follow the signs to Piazza dei Miracoli. Here is a list of parking lots (both free and paid) where you can leave your car during your stay:

• Via Pietrasantina (free parking): located outside the city walls, near the Pisa Stadium. A shuttle is available to Piazza dei Miracoli, which is about 1 km away.
• Paparelli Street (free parking): located outside the city walls. Free except on Wednesdays and Saturdays, market days. It is about 1 km from Piazza dei Miracoli.
• Via Pratale (free parking): north of Pisa, near the stadium. Free parking with access to the Tower by bus or on foot, about 3 km from Piazza dei Miracoli.
• Via Cammeo (paid parking): located behind the Leaning Tower. Daytime rate: 2€/hour, nighttime: 1€/hour. It is about 150 meters from Piazza dei Miracoli.
• Via Vecchia Barbaricina (paid parking): adjacent to the previous parking lot. Single fee: 1.50€/hour. It is about 150 meters from Piazza dei Miracoli.
• Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (paid parking): located near Pisa Central Station, about 2 km from the Tower. Rate: 2€/hour. It is about 2 km from Piazza dei Miracoli.

For more information, read the article on how to get to the Tower of Pisa.

Hours of the Sinopias Museum

Visiting Hours: The Museo delle Sinopie is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.. 

The best time to visit the Sinopias Museum is lunchtime (roughly between 12 noon and 3 p.m.), when there is a lower attendance.

Avoid the hours 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m., times when the crowds of tourists are greatest.

Where to eat near the Sinopie Museum

Looking for a traditional experience for your lunch break in Pisa? 

Here are some of the best trattorie in Pisa, where you can enjoy delicious dishes near Piazza dei Miracoli:

• Osteria dei Cavalieri: Located in the historic heart of Pisa, just a few steps away from the square of the same name and the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, Osteria dei Cavalieri offers a fusion of cucine authentic Tuscan and refined gastronomic offerings. The menu is varied and also features vegetarian options.
• Osteria in Domo: Close to Piazza dei Miracoli and the Torre Pendente is Osteria in Domo, is a typical Tuscan osteria that offers excellent traditional cuisine or revisited dishes. The menu includes both meat and fish dishes but also simpler dishes such assalads and sandwiches freshly prepared. There is also a menu tasting at very affordable prices.
• Osteria La Toscana: At the Osteria La Toscana you will find a wide selection of local products and traditional Tuscan dishes that are authentic or reinterpreted with new nuances. The restaurant is located in Piazzetta Ezio Tongiorgi, near Piazza dei Miracoli.

These restaurants offer an authentic culinary experience and are perfect for a pause tasty while visiting the monuments of Pisa. Enjoy!

Where to sleep near the Sinopie Museum

If you would like to stay in the vicinity of Pisa Cathedral and enjoy spectacular views of the Piazza dei Miracoli, there are several options to consider.

• Residenza d’Epoca Relais I Miracoli: located just 70 meters from the Leaning Tower, offers a historic atmosphere and elegant rooms.
• Hotel Pisa Tower: about 150 meters from the Tower of Pisa, has air-conditioned rooms with views of the tower.
• Grand Hotel Duomo Pisa: just a 2-minute walk from the Piazza del Duomo and Leaning Tower, offers a rooftop bar and rooftop terrace with views of the city.

All of these facilities are located in close proximity to Piazza dei Miracoli and offer easy access to main attractions of Pisa.

Nearby attractions

Here is a short guide to attractions to visit in the beautiful Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa:

• The Leaning Tower, the city’s most famous icon. Built in the 12th century, this tower campanary has a characteristic tilt due to foundation problems. 
• The Monumental Cemetery: located north of Dome Square, it houses graves of important city figures. On its walls are important cycles of frescoes.
• Opera del Duomo museum: This museum houses a valuable collection of artworks from the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the Leaning Tower.
• The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is an outstanding example of Pisan Romanesque style. Inside, you will find frescos, mosaics and a majestic altar.
• The Baptistery of St. John is located in front of the Duomo, has circular floor plan and features a mixture of architectural styles that make it a unique place.

Museum of the Sinopias reviews

Many visitors appreciate the world’s unique collection of sinopites preserved in the museum. These sinopias are precious graphic evidence of the medieval artists. I recommend that you visit the museum in conjunction with the Monumental Cemetery; in fact, the sinopias preserved in the museum are the earliest phase of the frescoes preserved in the Cemetery.

Particularly noteworthy is the restoration process that made possible the recovery of large portions of the frescoes spared from the fire due to the allied bombing during the World War II.

Sinopie Museum tickets

What are the types of tickets for visiting the Sinopie Museum?

There are various types of tickets: there are tickets to visit two monuments for 7€. Also included in the tickets is the visit to the Cathedral which is free but requires a ticket. 

The price of cumulative tickets is between 10€ and 42€ depending on which monuments you want to visit and any guided tour.

Museo delle Sinopie: domande frequenti

Conclusions

We have come to the end of this post on the Museo delle Sinopie, one of the most visited attractions in the Piazza dei Miracoli (along with the Baptistery, the Duomo, the Camposanto and the Tower of Pisa).

We talked about the history and medieval past of this place, saw together what a sinopia is, looked at restaurants to eat at and hotels to stay at.

We looked together at how to get there, where to park, and how to buy tickets online.

If you need more information, leave a comment below; however, if you would like to visit the different attractions in Dome Square, buy your entrance ticket by skipping the queue at the ticket office.