Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina

Gothic Jewel of Pisa Built in 1230, it's one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Italy, known for its exquisite detail, despite being a very small church. --- 🦷 "Della Spina" Means "of the Thorn" The church is named after a thorn from Christ’s crown of thorns (spina in Italian), which was once kept there as a relic. The thorn is now housed in a museum, but the name remains.

Beautiful early 12th century small church built of white marble on the south bank of the river Arno, right on its edge. Church is now used are and exhibition hall, not as a church anymore, but ones holds a thorn from the Crown of Christ (spina). Church was in late 19th century dismantled and rebuilt on higher level because of infiltration of the water from river Arno. Beautiful small church looks like a small cake of the edge of the road is one of the must places to visit in Pisa south bank. It's one of the best preserved Gothic architecture in whole Italy. Entrance is free.

I only saw this by night, but it’s truly beautiful from the outside, seemingly hanging over the river bank

No longer a place of worship, this little church is now currently used as a place to exhibit religious artworks. Gone are the pews, the space is now just open. Interesting history that this church used to be closer to the river and was relocated to this current spot in the mid 1850's. The side wall of the church now forms part of the river wall. Intricate and ornate features in marble and timber both inside and outside the church. A unique church.

I have to say, that the church itself is really nice, small and nice. It’s a beautiful gothic style, with lots of ornaments and sculptures. Thou the whole concept was not clear to me: and this is just a personal opinion. The beautiful small chiesa was the place to hold the spike from the Holy Crown of Thorns. Even the spike is not there, it is pretending to be a spiritual and Christian place. So it was really strange to see the advertising of the exhibition of some modern sculptor and a naked man right in front of the entrance of the church. What is mean is I like modern art, and the spirituality is also an important part of my life. But I do not see it mixed that way. This is very personal and I can understand people can have different opinions on that. For me it was not good and therefore I did no liked that

Great place to visit if you get the chance, really.history in this place

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina in Pisa is a stunning Gothic church located along the Arno River. Its intricate exterior, adorned with delicate carvings and sculptures, makes it one of the most beautiful small churches in Italy. The church’s name, “Spina,” refers to a relic believed to be a thorn from Christ’s crown, which was once housed there. Although small, its architectural details and ornate façade are truly impressive. It’s a peaceful, charming spot to visit and offers a quieter experience compared to Pisa’s more famous attractions. A hidden gem worth exploring!

A wonderful little church, richly decorated on the outside with numerous ornaments and statues. The inside is not so impressive. Located on the banks of the Arno River and built in the Gothic style. It is worth seeing at least from the outside. The working hours as far as I know are Monday, Tuesday - closed, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 16.30-19.00, Saturday, Sunday - 10.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00. GPS: 43.715247,10.396672