Pisa rises on the left side of the Arno river, at 15 km away from the coastline.
It is the main town of the Pisa province which extends to Vecchiano, on the north side, to Monteverdi Marittimo and Castelnuovo Val di Cecina on the south side, to Volterra and San Miniato, on the eastern and northeastern sides. The western side borders with the Livorno province and with the Ligurian Sea.
Pisa is famous worldwide for its wonderful Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral Square, 1987 Unesco Heritage. Besides the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery are worth being visited: marvellous gothic and romanic buildings made of white marble. The Cathedral Square also houses the Museo delle Sinopie, in which the preparatory sketches of the Camposanto frescoes are kept, and the Opera Museum, which hosts a rich collection of sculptures, painting and ancient reliquaries.
Pisa is full of many other treasures to be discovered, such as historical buildings, squares, museums and its characteristic Lungarni (walk paths along the river).
We suggest you to visit some of the historical buildings facing the Arno River, such as Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Lanfreducci and Palazzo Agostini on Lungarno Pacinotti; Palazzo Gambacorti, Palazzo Mosca and Palazzo Alliata on Lungarno Gambacorti. All these buildings are wonderful examples of late Middle Ages architecture and they contribute to create the typical fairy-tale atmosphere of the Lungarni.
Nearby the Solferino Bridge you can find the small church of S. Maria della Spina (1230), which is one of the most important masterpieces of gothic art in Italy.
Pisan museums that enclose the beauties of the town are the Palazzo Reale Museum and the San Matteo Museum, whereas the new Palazzo Blu houses several national and international exhibitions of incredible value.
Pisa also house a modern mural made in 1989 by the famous graffiti artist Keith Haring: a 180 square metres mural on the south wall of the church of St. Anthony. Do not miss it!
The particularity of Pisa, which makes it very accessible to tourists, is that the major monuments and the places of interest are situated in the town-centre and easily reachable on foot. Walking along the streets of the centre you will feel that old-times atmosphere, of which the Borgo Stretto Medieval Porch is a perfect example.
We also suggest a visit to the splendid Piazza dei Cavalieri where you can find Palazzo dei Cavalieri, housing the Scuola Normale Superiore, and Palazzo dell'Orologio. The latter encloses the Muda Tower, where the main character of the XXXIIIrd poem of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, died.
The Medieval walls in Pisa are still present and include some preserved arches and doors which are part of the urban furnitures: Porta Garibaldi, Porta Santa Marta, Porta San Zeno, Porta del Parlascio, Porta a Lucca, Porta San Ranierino, Porta Nuova, Porta Buoza, Porta a Mare.
The history of Pisa dates back to the Greek and Etruscan times. Pisa became an important harbour during the Roman empire, becoming a strong maritime power in the XIIth century, when it became a Republic, after taking part to the 1st Crusade. Pisa extended its influence on the whole Tuscan coastline and on Sardinia, defeating Amalfi and the Saracens. This period was the beginning of an era of great prosperity and artistic splendour which allowed the province to get richer and richer.
The town is still divided in four districts which challenge each other every year in the Battle of the Bridge - Gioco del Ponte, one of the events taking place during the so called "Pisan June". As a matter of fact June is the most important month for the town: on the occasion of the Patron Saint day, St. Ranieri, on the 17th of June, the Luminara, the Battle of the Bridge, the Palio di San Ranieri and the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics (once every 4 years) take place.
Pisa province also offers a wonderful natural heritage: you can visit the Migliarino - San Rossore Natural Park, the Massaciuccoli Lake, the Pisan Mounts, the Pisan hills and the coastside (Marina di Vecchiano, Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia).
The areas of Valdera, Valdarno, Val di Cecina, the Pisan mounts and hills offer not only the natural scenery - ideal for trekking, horse and bike riding - but also historical beauties, such as anchaeological sites (Volterra necropolis and Roman anphitheatre, San Genesio site etc.), churches, castles, farmhouses.
The thermal areas are worldwide known as well, such as Casciana Terme, San Giuliano Terme and Uliveto Terme, which are situated amid the unspoilt olive groves. These thermal baths were used also in ancient times for the therapeutic power of their waters. Nowadays they offer various structures and services for thermal baths and therapeutic and beauty treatments.
The Thyrrenian seaside of the Pisan Province, including the Migliarino - San Rossore - Massaciuccoli Natural Park, is featured by the towns and beaches of Calambrone, Marina di Vecchiano, Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia, which offer seaside resorts and natural shores where to relax and enjoy the good season.
The wine and food specialities reflect the variety of the sceneries: the Mount Serra chestnuts; the Olives of the Oil Road that passes through Vicopisano, Buti, Calci, San Giuliano Terme and Vecchiano; the grapes of the Wine Road of the Pisan hills and the Etruscan Coast. The wine and food products are unique and genuine, like the cultivations of this land. Wine and olive oil are surely typical products of Tuscany, but San Miniato and Volterra Truffles and Lari cherries can only be found in Pisa province.
Browse the typical Pisan recipes.
