“Pisa nova Hierusalem”. Le imitationes gerosolimitane e la sacralizzazione civica

Abstract

This essay examines the phenomenon of "Jerusalemite imitations" and the process of civic sacralization in Pisa. Through a detailed examination of architectural, dedicatory, and cultual memories linked to the Holy Land, the author identifies two main types of sacralization: devotional and civic. The case of Pisa is analyzed in the context of the city's participation in the Crusades and Mediterranean politics, highlighting how Jerusalemite architectural structures and relics were used for both religious and political purposes. The analysis of key buildings such as the Holy Sepulchre, the chapel of Sant'Agata, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, as well as the urban layout of the Jerusalemite imitations, shows how Pisa integrated symbols of the Holy Land into its civic and religious identity.