Like all the buildings on the Piazza del Cavalieri, this marble church is linked to the history of Pisa’s knights. Built when the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen was founded, today the church remains one of the square’s stateliest and most photogenic structures.
The church’s façade has a simplicity that makes it stand out amongst the much busier façades of Knights’ Square. Much of the building was designed by Giorgio Vasari, who was the architect behind the Knights’ Square. The design of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri’s façade is attributed to the illegitimate son of the first Duke of Tuscany.
Step inside to see the military-centric décor. Gaze at the painted ceiling, which depicts six events in the rich military history of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen. Blue-and-gold stucco sculptures surround the painted portion of the ceiling. Another highlight of the interior is the collection of banners that the knights took from Saracen pirates. Browse these and a variety of other artefacts.
Artist Giovanni Battista Foggini’s sculpted altar, built in the early 1700s, is the most striking religious feature of the church. Two statues on the altar depict St. Stephen’s life and untimely end. The first is a typical statue with a head. The second is a relief of the saint post-decapitation.
Attend a service to hear the reverberating tones of the church’s organ. There are three organs in the church, but only one is still played.
Located on the southeast side of Pisa’s Knights’ Square next to the Palazzo della Carovana, the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri is right at the heart of the city’s historic district. Reach the church on foot or by bus from anywhere in the city centre. Limited metered parking is available for drivers. The church can be accessed daily for a small fee.
