Pisa Tourist Information

Pisa Travel Guide

Where the Arno river opens out into the Ligurian sea stands the ancient city of Pisa. The city, famed for its leaning bell tower, was a seafaring centre of trade as far back as the 5th century BC, and has retained much of its old world charm. One of the more relaxed Italian cities, Pisa welcomes tourists, as it's done for hundreds of years, into the heart of beautiful Tuscany.

A number of Pisa's tourist sights centre around the Piazza dei Miracoli ('square of miracles'), in Pisa's historic centre. While most are aware of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the city also holds a vast array of art and architecture that spans across the centuries. The Romanesque Duomo (Cathedral), the Baptistery and the Camposanto (monumental cemetery) can also be found in the square, with a number of other interesting sights close by.

Pisa Tourist Attractions

Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knights' square), holds the Palazzo della Carovana and Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri church, both designed by Giorgio Vasari. Nearby, visitors will find the small Romanesque church of St Sixtus, built in 1133 and once used to house the Council of Elders, and the church of St Francis, designed by Giovanni di Simone in 1276. The 12th century church of San Frediano, constructed in 1061, contains 16th century works by Ventura Salimbeni, Domenico Passignano, and Rutilio Manetti.

Other points of interest for tourists include the church of San Nicola, built in 1097, the Gothic Santa Maria della Spina (1230), San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno (952 AD) and the Medici Palace. The Palazzo Reale, the ancestral home of the Caetani family, is where Pisan native, Galileo, first introduced the Grand Duke of Tuscany to his telescope, and the renowned Orto botanico di Pisa is Europe's oldest university botanical garden. The city also holds a number of world-class museums with rare works from the 12th to 15th centuries. many of these old buildings can be visited on tours of Pisa.

Like most Italian cities, cafés and restaurants abound with aromatic Italian espresso and delightful cuisine. Visitors can shop or stroll beneath the medieval arcades of the Borgo Stretto neighbourhood, or along the green avenues near the Arno river. Beyond the city walls stretches the beautiful Tuscan countryside, where tourists can shop for antiques, or enjoy a full-bodied glass of local wine.

Transport Around Pisa

The city is perfectly designed to be explored on foot or by bike, although Pisa operates an excellent bus system with connections across the city. Taxis are readily available, but they can be expensive. The region's only international airport, Galileo Galilei International Airport, is 20 minutes drive from the city. Pisa's main train station is a 30 minute walk from Piazza dei Miracoli, while intercity buses leave from the main terminal at Piazza Sant'Antonio.