Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)

This is an unofficial name that has been used to refer to the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) in the Italian city of Pisa. Its most famous building is of course the Campanile – the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The name was coined by the Italian writer Gabriele d'Annunzio, who used it in a novel first published in 1910. (Its title translates as Maybe Yes Maybe No; no I've never read it either.)

Annunzio became a hero in Italy for his exploits during the First World War. He has since been described as the forerunner of Italian Fascism.

© Haydn Thompson 2020