Knights' Square, as the English translation would be, is one of the main squares in Pisan and is generally regarded as the centre of the historic town. In medieval Pisa it was the centre of political life, later in the 16th century it was the seat of the Order of St Stephen and now it is the main building of the local university.

Compared to the infinitely more famous Piazza del Duomo (also Piazza dei Miracoli), which is a 5-minute walk away and has been the centre of ecclesiastical power since its inception, the Knights' Square is the exact opposite - secular power has always resided here.

The palaces around the perimeter of the square

The entire square is lined with magnificent palaces, just stand in the middle and slowly turn 360°.

One of the most famous is undoubtedly the Palazzo della Carovana, built in the mid-16th century as the seat of the Order of St Stephen. Its architect was the famous Giorgio Vasari and the palace is particularly notable for its decorated façade in the sgraffito technique.

In the eastern corner of the square stands the Church of St Stephen, built in the ornate Mannerist style, and among its main gems is the magnificent golden coffered ceiling.

The entire western part of the square is occupied by the Palazzo del Collegio Puteano, built in the early 17th century and distinguished by the rich frescoes on its façade.

Right in front of the Carovana Palace, you can admire the magnificent statue of Cosimo I, dating from 1596. Medici, Duke of Florence and later of Tuscany in the first half of the 16th century.

How to get there

Piazza dei Cavalieri is best reached on foot.

From the Leaning Tower, the quickest way is via Via Capponi and Via Martini, which will take you there in about 5 minutes.

From the other side, the walk from the Arno River will also take around 5 minutes, and from the train station, a very slow walk through the centre will take around half an hour.