Tower, Lookout

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a concept known to tourists from all over the world. Torre pendente, as its Italian name is, stands in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) on the northern outskirts of Pisa and its fame is evident at first sight. The leaning tower functions as the bell tower of the nearby Cathedral of the Assumption and reaches a height of almost 56 metres. [btn "Compare Pisa flight prices" /go-skyscanner] Why is the…

Cathedral

The main cathedral of Pisa is a beautiful example of medieval Romanesque architecture in the Pisan style and the oldest building in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. The Cathedral is the main part of the UNESCO-listed complex, which includes the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the bell tower of the church. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-katedrala] Architecture and history…

Church

The first building in the Piazza dei Miracoli that you come across on your way off the main road is the imposing 55-metre-high Baptistery of St John the Baptist. That is, the baptistery, a building used only for the sacrament of baptism. In Italy from the 11th to the 14th century, detached baptisteries were fashionable, but the Pisan one is one of the largest and most striking. It belongs to the neighbouring Cathedral of the Assumption and was…

Square

Piazza dei Miracoli, one of the most famous squares in Italy and indeed the world. It is also often called Piazza del Duomo, or Cathedral Square. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world with a showcase of top medieval architecture. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-mircaoli] The square was created during the 11th century at the height of the…

Cemetery

A somewhat neglected monument in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli is the Camposanto Cemetery, often referred to as Campo Santo Monumentale. The cemetery is an example of the extraordinary cultural architecture of the Pisan Republic and a beautiful place with a majestic touch. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-camposanto] Construction of the cemetery began between 1277 and…

Square

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. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-cavalieri…

Street

The main pedestrian zone of Pisan, right in the historic centre, is the Borgo Stretto, which connects Piazza Garibaldi on the banks of the Arno River with Via Guglielmo Oberdan, but is only a de facto continuation of the Borgo Stretto. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-stretto] This lively street has arcades on both sides, full of luxury clothing shops, as well as classic…

Fortress

The fortress of Giardino Scotto, formerly known as Fortezza Nuova or Cittadella Nuova, is one of the main monuments of Pisa, although it cannot match the fame of the Leaning Tower. The defensive fortress was built in the east of the city in 1440, at the height of the military pressure on Pisa from the Florentine Republic. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-giardino] During…

Bridge

If you explore the centre of Pisa on foot, you won't miss the main bridge over the Arno River, Ponte di Mezzo. Built in the mid-20th century, the structure itself is unremarkable, but its wide sidewalks offer a spectacular view of the gently curving Arno River and a waterfront lined with old townhouses. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-ponte] The Ponte di Mezzo connects…

Pebble beach

Although in the Middle Ages, during the Pisan Republic, the city was one of the world's great maritime powers, over the centuries the very shallow coastal waters have silted up and Pisa has drifted a full 15 km from the sea. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-marina] Even so, the local Marina di Pisa district has grown up along the coast, connected to the centre by road…

Sandy beach

The quiet seaside resort of Tirrenia is the closest beach destination to the centre of Pisa, next to Marina di Pisa. And unlike the pebbly and not-so-comfortable beaches of Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia boasts a beautiful long beach with fine golden sand that will delight all lovers of peace and quiet. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-pisa-tirrenia] The beach in Tirrenia is…

Tower

On the western edge of the city, near the railway bridge over the Arno River, the watchtower of the former citadel of Torre Guelfa rises 18 metres high as a dominant feature of the waterfront. This defensive fortress was built at the beginning of the 15th century during the first Florentine domination, when the whole area of western Pisa was rebuilt. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb.html?aid=2380460…

Church

You will come across a picturesque and very special church on the left bank of the Arno River. The church was built in 1230 as a small chapel, then slightly enlarged in the course of 1325. Its façade is one of the finest examples of Pisan Gothic architecture. The exterior is characterised by rich sculptural decoration and a magnificent façade of white Carrara marble. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Pisa" https://www.booking.com/city/it/pisa.en-gb…