Pisa Top 10

Emblem of the city thanks to its characteristic leaning this tower is the most known monument of the Cathedral square. Built between the XII and the XIV century this tower leans because the ground gave way during its construction. Even if it could looks scaring don’t worry, this tower will never fall down, because the axis that passes through the barycentre falls into the base of the tower, so to make the tower fall the laws of physics should be subverted. We don’t have certain informations about who built this tower, maybe it was the architect Diotisalvi, who in that period was working at the Baptistery. But even if there are several analogies between the two monuments the diatribe on the planner of the tower is still open. The tower is proposed to be one of the seven wonders of the contemporary world.

When: from March to October, every day from 9 am to 7 pm. From November to February every day from 9.30 am to 5 pm. From April to September every day from 8,30 am to 8,30 pm. From the 14th June to the 15th September you can make a night visit from 8,30 pm to 11 pm.
Tickets: 15 €
How to get: From the central station: shuttle bus A or the bus n°3

The Cathdreal of Our lady of the Assumption is the most significant example of the Pisa Romanesque art. The architect Buscheto joined the classical tradition with elements coming from the Norman, Byzantine, Pre-Christian and Arabic arts, so creating a new style which anticipates the Florentine Renaissance. The Cathedral of Pisa testify the prestige that the Maritime Republic reached in its moment of maximum power. Its construction began in 1604, in the same date of the beginning of the works to the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. It probably was risen a sort of silent competition between the two Republics for who was able to build the most beautiful and sumptuous place of worship. The present aspect of the Cathedral its the result of continues restauration intervention that follow one another in different epochs. During the IX century some of the statues has been substituted with copies, the originals are in the Museum of Opera del Duomo

When: Winter from 10 am to 12.45 pm and from 3 pm to 4.45 pm during weekdays; from 3 pm to 4.45 pm on Sundays and public holidays. In Autumn, Spring and Summero from 8 am to 8 pm
Tickets: 2 €
How to get: From the central station: shuttle bus A or the bus n°3

The Pisa Baptistery is an other one of the monuments that forms the monumental complex of Cathedral square (or Miracle’s square). Its construction began in 1153 and its a work by the architect Diotisalvi, an inscription on an interior pillar testify the name of the architect, but a lot of the sculptures on the façade are made by Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni. Nicola Pisano made the pulpit that presents scenes from the Christ’s life and subject that represents the virtues: all masterpieces that testify how their creator was one of the principals precursors of the Renaissance art. The external dome only covers the first part of pillars and probably the lack of money its the cause, indeed the dome is made of different materials (red tiles and lead plate) compared to the rest of the building. For the same reason there are no frescoes on the ceiling, even if they was calculated on the original plan.
In spite of this the Baptistery is an incredible monument and it’s the biggest Baptistery in Italy.

When: from November to February from 10 am to 4.30 pm. From March to October from 9 am to 6,30 pm
Never: 1st January and 25th December
Tickets: Full tickets 5 €; Reduced tickets 2 €
How to get: From the central station: shuttle bus A or the bus n°3

The Museum of the ancients Boats of Pisa it’s an archaeological museum in progress of preparation. In December 1998 during some works to build a new railway articulation, some ancient boats was found, remains of city harbour in a perfect state of preservation. The absence of oxygen and the absence of water-bearing stratum prevent the deterioration of this archaeological finds. The resounding provoked by this exceptional finds it was the reason why the township of Pisa decided to exhibit them to the public Therefore the site became a real open museum with the purpose to move closer to the activity of digging and restauration even the “unauthorized personnel”: the area can be visited even during the work activities. The path that visitors should take make them see the places where the ships are restaurated and prepared for the future exhibition, meanwhile in the display cabinet there are the finds of the latest researchs.

When: Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2,30 pm to 3,30 pm. Requires reservation, Only groups. The Museum is always open.
How to get: By feet from Miracle’s square

As we told before Pisa is very known for the Miracle’s square, but it is known for its Arno river promenade too: all the streets that go along the Arno are an important point of reference for the young of Pisa and interesting point of reference for the tourists. There are important building, dated back to the Middle age, that during the centuries has been transformed. Towers, bridges and buildings, in spite of their actual Renaissance appearance, has a medieval soul, which can’t be ignored by the eye of an attentive tourist. Among the great number of streets, the more known is the Medicean one which hosts a great number of historical buildings, such as: The de’ Medici Palace, Toscanelli Palace and the church of San Matteo in Soarta. But it’s not everything: here you can find numerous pubs, restaurants and bars where spend lovely nights. Every 16th June, in occasion of the celebrations in honour of the Saint Patron, the streets are illuminated by candlelights that give to the buildings a strange and beautiful look and it create suggestive light and colour play.

The legend tells that the monumental graveyard of Pisa is a sacred place because the crusader brings here the saint-ground took on the Golgotha mountain. There are buried the most important people of Pisa, and there can be found art works from the Etruscan time passing through the Latin and Medieval to the XIX century. Simple white marble walls keep the graves, the most important persons were buried into the garden or in the Latin sarcophagi, while the other were buried under the arcades.
In the XIX century the Graveyard was restructured, the sarcophagi was moved under the arcades to protect them from the elements, so currently everything is indoor. The mix between celebration of the history and thinking of the death made this Graveyard become one of the most visited place during 1800. Unfortunately during the second world war bombardments caused serious damages to the frescoes of this beautiful, huge monument, and from 1945 the renovation works are still in progress.

When: from November to February from 10 am to 4,30 pm. From Match to October from 9 am to 6,30 pm
*Never: 1st January and 25th December
Tickets: 5 € Reduced ticket 2€
How to get: From the central station: shuttle bus A or the bus n°3

Pisa gastronomy isn’t very popular because it isn’t very different from the one of the rest of Tuscany, even if confronted with the food of the others Tuscany’s cities, the one of Pisa is more spiced and abundant. Anyway the Pisa food has its own plates as: the frog soup, the white beans of San Michele soup and the bavettine sul pesce. The fish is the principal ingredient for this food is a real protagonist: grilled grey mullet and cod, boiled Mediterranean spiderfish, sweet-and-sour cod are the more diffuses recipes. If you prefer meat you can taste: pheasant, boar or hare. It’s very known the pesto pisano, different from the Genova pesto because it has the pine kernels too. To complete your meal you can have a cake too, such as Torta co’ bischeri (it’s easier to find in bakery than in cake shop, it’s a cake made of chestnuts, pine nuts and chocolate) that it’s the cake more known and diffused of Pisa gastronomy.

Pisa is one of the most visited cities of Italy thanks to its beautiful monuments but you have to content yourself with the typical production, because there are few typical shops. Among the classical souvenir shops in Miracles’ square you can buy sweaters, hats, t-shirts with the city coat of arms, the ancient Maritime Republic flags and leather accessories produced in that area. But among all these things the little reproductions of the tower, the baptistery and the church are the most sold. If you love big name shops you can have a walk in Corso Italia, Borgo stretto and then Borgo largo which can satisfy your desire of glamour. In Piazza delle vettovaglie in the middle of the centro storico you can buy typical products, among them: pecorino, wines and grocery produced in the area. Every second week end in a month the city organize antique local street market in Via dei Mille, in Via Santa Maria and Piazza dei Cavalieri.

The night in Pisa offers interesting attractions for tourists, don’t forget that Pisa is a young city thanks to the great number of students that meet in the streets in the evening and bustle the city. The places more crowded are the streets around the Arno promenade and the centro storico where you can find pubs, restaurants and clubs that offers live music and where you can spend pleasing hours. In summertime young people move in direction of the Pisa coast or the Versilia where there are a lot of discos and clubs. It’s clear that the night life in Pisa can’t be confronted to a great city life but when the weather become warmer, if you don’t want to go to sleep, you can stay in the street jawing till late. The biggest part of the clubs are really near each other so people can move easily from one to another.

If you decide to spend some days in Pisa you just have to choose where to sleep: the city offers solutions for all the exigences and for all the budgets. For the ones who wants a comfortable and relaxing holiday there’s a great choice of Hotels (from 1 to 4 stars), it’s obvious that if you want to stay near the monuments you’ve to spend a little more or you can choose an hotel a little more far from the centre. If you are looking just for a place where sleep you can give a look to the B&B or to rent-a-room. Pisa offers also the possibility to stay in camping. Let’s make your choice and go discover this city that. We’re sure, is going to charming you, not only with its leaning tower…