Pisa is a beautiful and historic city in Tuscany, Italy that is known for its famous Leaning Tower. We all know about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It’s a must-see when visiting the city. But there is SO much more to Pisa than the Leaning Tower.
I visited Pisa with my family and loved the city. Of course, we visited the Leaning Tower, but that was a fraction of our week there. The gelato, cuisine (I was pregnant & hungry), river views, architecture, botanical gardens, and day trips. It was a memorable trip with meals we are still talking about! We stayed in this AirBnB apartment for our time there. It’s on close to Piazza Martiri della Liberta. That visit was in 2016 though, so I went through my own and my dad’s travel notes then made sure all info is current. I will add more photos from our trip as I find them. My dad took most of them because I was almost always holding a gelato. That week, he also presented tutorials at AdaEurope 2016 (T1 & T2). Always the proud daughter.
Side note: This is part of my 12-part series of travel posts all summer long! All my travel posts including this series and all posts from the last 12 years can be found here. But all my August posts are specifically about places in Italy that I’ve visited.
History
Pisa is a city located in the Tuscany region of Italy, and has a rich history and culture that has shaped its unique identity. The origins of Pisa can be traced back to the Roman Republic, when it was a major port and trading center. The city was later ruled by the Longobards and the Franks, before becoming part of the Republic of Pisa in the 11th century. Pisa was one of the four major maritime republics of Italy, along with Genoa, Venice, and Amalfi. The city was a major center of trade and commerce, and had a powerful navy that protected its merchant ships as they traveled the Mediterranean. Pisa was a center of learning and intellectualism during the Middle Ages, and was home to one of the first universities in Europe, the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. Today, the city is still a major center for education and research, and is home to many universities and research institutes.
Art & Architecture
Pisa has a long history of artistic and architectural achievements, and is home to many beautiful buildings and works of art. The city is particularly famous for its stunning Romanesque architecture, as well as its numerous churches, palaces, and towers. The most famous landmark in Pisa is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is a bell tower that is famous for its distinctive tilt. The tower was built in the 12th century and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Italy. The city is also home to many museums.
What to Do
Here are 10 things to do in Pisa after you’ve seen the Leaning Tower:
- See the Pisa Cathedral: The Pisa Cathedral is an important religious building in the city, and is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate mosaics.
- Visit the Field of Miracles: The Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, and the Baptistery are located in a large green park known as the Field of Miracles. It’s a great place to take a stroll and admire the beautiful buildings.
- Visit the Baptistery: The Baptistery of Pisa is located next to the Cathedral. It’s an impressive building that is known for its beautiful acoustics, and is also home to an important collection of medieval sculptures.
- Take a day trip to the nearby cities of Florence and Lucca: This is a big one that is actually two. Florence and Lucca are both located within easy reach of Pisa by train and offer a wealth of things to see and do. Florence is famous for its art and architecture, while Lucca is known for its well-preserved medieval city walls. It’s so easy to do this on the train! You can book a free Florence walking tour ahead of time. One of my favorite places to eat in Florence is Il Barroccio (Via della Vigna Vecchia 31/R, 50122, Florence, Italy). Taxi or walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo (sometimes written in signage as Piazzale Michelangiolo) for the unparalleled view. Walk around the Boboli Gardens too. Clearly, this needs to be its own blog post.
- Try the local cuisine: Pisa is located in the heart of Tuscany, so be sure to try the local cuisine which includes dishes such as fresh pasta, meat dishes and seafood. Be sure to try traditional dishes such as “cacciucco” fish stew and “cecina” a chickpea flour dish. We went to Peperosa for dinner and it was creative gastronomy. I had freshly made squid ink pasta. For pizza, we went to two places twice. One was Pizzeria Le Mura (Largo Parlascio, 34) where I enjoyed the toppings: zucchine e funghi (courgette & mushrooms). The other was Pizzeria Moonlight which has a lovely back garden for al fresco dining. Eat gelato as often as humanly possible. When we were there, I was pregnant with Bumblebee so I was eating two cones a day at Gelateria Artigianale Rufus.
- Visit the Pisa Museum of Ancient Ships: Located near the train station, this museum showcases shipwreck recoveries, ship building history, and archeology.
- Enjoy a boat ride on the Arno River: Take a boat ride on the Arno River, which is one of the most beautiful ways to see the city.
- Take a walk along the Arno: If a boat ride is not for you, take a walk along the Arno river and admire the beautiful views of the city and the river.
- Visit the Palazzo Blu: The Palazzo Blu is a museum that hosts temporary art exhibitions and has a beautiful terrace with views of the Arno river.
- The Pisa Botanical Garden, also known as the Orto Botanico di Pisa, is a botanical garden located in Pisa, Italy. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, having been founded in 1544 by the University of Pisa, located on the banks of the Arno River. It is a great place to enjoy a peaceful stroll, take in the beautiful views of the city and admire the plants and trees. The garden is home to a wide variety of plants and trees, including a collection of Mediterranean plants, a tropical greenhouse, and a number of rare and endangered species. It also has a herbarium, which is a collection of dried plant specimens used for research and study.
These are just a few of the many things you can do when visiting Pisa. With so much to see and do, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of time to explore this beautiful city and its surrounding areas. I will always cherish our week there and all the excursions we took from our Pisa base.