First accounts of the building date back to the third century, recently made excavations in the foundations of a structure of early Christian origin, but the building period can be identified around the 11th century. According to the tradition the Basilica rose exactly in the spot where the ship from which San Pietro disembarked (hence the name) who was travelling to reach the Pope in Rome.

Inside the basilica, restorations finished in the spring of 2000, have brought back to the light, on the elevation of the central nave, the circle of the «Storie di San Pietro»; the elevations show, in one series per side, the histories of the Popes and of San Pietro. The cycle of frescoes, that can be dated back to the XIV century was commissioned by the Pisa family of the Castani, and was attributed to the Lucca painter Deodato Orlandi.

A simple and linear construction, a structure typical of Pisan sacred architecture made up of three naves is characterised by a double order of apses: three face the east and only one facing west. Inside, in the apsidal area facing north the first altar of the church was brought back to the light. From this altar, according to tradition, San Pietro preached his first mass and around it the structure rose which then took on today’s features. And still in the apsidal area there is a crucifix in wood. Outside the traces of the ancient bell tower that was destroyed by a bombing during the second world war; the three bells are still kept inside the church. The basilica of san Pietro in Grado can be visited every day from 8 am to 7 pm.

October.2002

APT Pisa