Pisa - Πίζα

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Pisa from above

H Pisa is her city Central Italy, in the periphery Tuscany.

At a glance

Ideal period of visit

How to get there

Pisa Central Railway Station

By air

The Pisa airport. officially Galileo Galilei Airport (IATA: PSA, ICAO: LIRP), is its largest Tuscany. In 2015 the passenger traffic reached 4,804,774.

Airlines that operate regular flights to Pisa are Ryanair, Vueling, Wizz Air, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa. During the summer the flights increase significantly. The airport is only 1 km from the city center. Access to the airport is only possible by bus, but a new train will soon be completed with direct access to the city's main station.

By train

THE central station of the city is located on the main line Rome-Genoa. The journey from Rome by the fastest trains (red) takes three hours. Information on itineraries and reservations (recommended) at official webpage of the Italian railways.

By road

By boat

Livorno Port is 31 km from Pisa

Orient yourself

Pisa: Click here to see a full screen map.

How to move

What to see

Monuments and museums

The Campo dei Miracoli from above. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is on the left, the Duomo is in the center, the Baptistery is on the right, and part of Campo Santo is right in front.

Pisa is divided into 4 historic districts. There is much more beyond the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the city to see many different hiking trails.

THE Piazza dei Miracoli the Field of Miracles is north of the center of Pisa. It is one World Heritage Site and contains the most famous sights of the city:

Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre Pendente). It was originally designed as a bell tower of the cathedral. Construction began in 1173 and the tower began to tilt a little later due to the subsidence of the ground beneath its base. A plan to keep the tower from leaning over and tipping over was completed in 2001, and the tower is again open to anyone wishing to climb. Going up the tower requires you to have booked a ticket (€ 15). Tickets can be purchased for the tower on the same day, for a specified period of time. This could be 45 minutes - 2 hours after purchase time, but there is plenty to see while you wait. It's better if you buy tickets online [1] for 17 € in advance. Tickets are non-exchangeable, virtually non-refundable, and buying in advance is a bit risky. If you make the effort to climb, you will be rewarded by the view. Useful information: the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not unique, due to the swampy land that is built on it, there are 2 other towers in Pisa: the bell tower of St. Nicholas, near the banks of the Arno and the San Michele bell tower of the Scalzi Church. (updated Jul 2016)

Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta). A magnificent cathedral, it contains works of art by Giambolonia, Della Robbia, and other great artists. Romanesque style with double aisle and dome, a huge mosaic arch partly by Chimabue, and a pulpit by Giovanni Pizano in late Gothic / early Renaissance style. (updated Jul 2016)

Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni). Large round Romanesque dome with many embossed decorations and nice views at the top, go up if you want a great view with the Leaning Tower of Pisa shown in your photos. Arabic-style sidewalk, pulpit by Nicola Pisano (Giovanni's father). At regular intervals, the collector comes to the baptistery and gives an audio example of the echo-effect. The collector shouts some sounds that are repeated and sounds like pure beautiful music. You can also stand near the wall, and sing notes that turn into chords on your own, as the echo goes around and around the dome of the building. (updated Jul 2016)

Cemetery (Composanto Monumentale). A huge cemetery building with many interesting works of art, including a collection of ancient Roman sarcophagi and magnificent medieval frescoes by the "Master of Triumph of Death". There is also a 19th century statue of the famous mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, a native of the city.

Cathedral Opera Museum. It has sculptures and paintings from the cathedral and the cemetery. Some of the most unusual are bronze sculptures from Syria when it was occupied by the Crusaders. You can also take nice pictures of the Tower and the cathedral from the balcony. (updated Jul 2016)

(Museum of Sinopie). Although not many visitors go, this museum is a delight for art lovers. After World War II many of the surviving murals and murals from Campo Santo were detached for preservation. It was unexpectedly discovered that the artist's sketches below had survived. These were transferred to this museum. (updated Jul 2016)

(Piazza dei Cavalieri). A small town square with many historic buildings that housed the city's political forces during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, but most of which are not accessible to tourists, are now owned by the University of Pisa or the Scuola Normale Superiore (a famous school). (updated Jul 2016)

(Palazzo della Carovana). The main building of the Scuola Normale Superiore, with its ornate façade, by the important Italian Renaissance artist and architect Giorgio Vasari - who is also said to be the first art historian. (updated Jul 2016)

(Palazzo dell'Orologio). A fourteenth-century building that replaced the Torre della Fame (Tower of Hunger), where Conte Ugolino della Gherardesca was imprisoned and left to starve to death with his sons, according to Dante's Divine Comedy. (updated Jul 2016)

Church of Agios Stefanos (Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri). Designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century for the Ordine dei Cavalieri di Santo Stefano (Knight's Order of St. Stephen), a cavalry order founded to combat piracy in 1561. (updated Jul 2016)

Other historic buildings are the Church of San Rocco, the Rectorate, the Caravan Palace, the Palace of the Twelve.

Museum of San Mateo (Museo di San Matteo), Piazza San Matteo, 1, Lungarno Mediceo, ☎ 39 50 541865. This is a fantastic museum of history and art, which houses almost all the authentic works of art from all the churches in and around Pisa. Although it was quite small, it is one of the largest for the Tuscan Renaissance art, it is hosted on the premises of the monastery of San Matteo. An ornament overtaken by most tourists.

Botanical Garden (Botanical garden), via Luca Ghini 5. (updated Jul 2016)

When you see the main sights of Pisa, there is still a little jewel on the left: Marina di Pisa, the port of Pisa on the Mediterranean Sea. It hosts a beach, not with sand, but with small marble pebbles. The pebbles are smooth and will not hurt your feet, but since they are a bit unstable near water, raincoats or beach shoes are recommended for walking along the beach.

The river Arno
San Matteo Museum

Entertainment

Studies

Job opportunities

What will you buy

Where are you going to eat?

Economic options

Middle class

High benefits

Where to go for coffee - drink

Where will you stay?

Economic options

Hostel Pisa, via Filippo Corridoni, 29, ☎ 39 050 520 1841.
Hostel Pisa Tower, via Piave 2, ☎ 39 050 520 2454. New, Central location (updated Jul 2016)
Airport Pisa Rooms, Via from the airport 70. (updated Jul 2016)
Hotel Moderno, Via Filippo Corridoni, 103, ☎ FORMAT. (updated Jul 2016)