What to see in Pisa. Sights of Pisa, our impressions. Pisa: the city of the leaning tower

Italy is a beautiful and amazing country. Every corner of this state is worthy of special attention, and in any Italian city there are a lot of attractions that will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated travelers.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy is the city of Pisa. There are probably no people who have not heard about this place. First of all, Pisa is associated with the famous “leaning” tower, known throughout the world. However, this great building is far from the only reason to visit the wonderful Italian city. So, what attractions can you see in Pisa?

It is not for nothing that tourists strive to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Having reached it, they find themselves in the very heart of the city, its most beautiful corner - the Square of Miracles or, as the Italians themselves call it, Piazza dei Miracoli. The architectural complex of the square has no analogues in the whole world: in addition to the famous tower, there are three more monumental sights located in Piazza dei Miracoli. These are medieval buildings, unique in their beauty and grandeur: the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Baptistery and the Campo Santo cemetery.

Although crowds of tourists gather at the Leaning Tower of Pisa all the time, the central architectural monument of the square is not it at all, but the cathedral. The construction of this building began in the 11th century. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a striking example of the Romanesque style. It is made of white and gray marble, decorated with ancient mosaics, frescoes, and massive bronze doors. The cathedral contains the most valuable relics of the Middle Ages - the relics of saints.

The Baptistery of John the Baptist (San Giovanni) was built after the construction of the cathedral, but a little earlier than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

This building served as a place for baptismal rites. Italy and the city of Pisa can rightfully be proud of this building: the Pisa Baptistery is the largest in the country. Its height is almost 55 m, and its circumference is 107 m. The architectural monument has an unusual style, representing a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. This is explained by the fact that 3 architects participated in the construction of the structure at different times.

In the northern part of Piazza dei Miracoli is the Campo Santo cemetery. This, of course, is not at all the kind of cemetery that most Russian tourists can imagine. Camposanto Monumental is a majestic historical building in the Gothic style. It is built in the form of a long covered gallery with large arches. There was once a large number of Roman sarcophagi located here, but due to a fire that occurred during World War II, only a small part of the frescoes, sculptures and sarcophagi themselves survived.

Speaking about the Square of Miracles, of course, one cannot help but touch upon the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is this attraction that tourists visiting the city first seek. Perhaps what made this building a unique monument was not so much its architecture as its famous slope.

Many people mistakenly believe that the tilt of the tower is an amazing architectural idea, but scientists are increasingly inclined to believe that a serious mistake was made during construction: the architects did not take into account the composition of the soil on which the structure was erected, and, moreover, they made it too small for such a monumental building foundation.

Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is regularly restored and efforts are made to save it from destruction.

Undoubtedly, many tourists come to the city to look at the Square of Miracles. But don’t forget about another famous Pisa square – Piazza dei Cavalieri, which, by the way, is the second most important Pisa landmark. The history of this place goes back more than one century. Once upon a time, the headquarters of the knightly order named after St. Stephen was located here (hence the name of the attraction, which translates as “Square of the Knights”), and now the whole city knows Piazza dei Cavalieri as the center of the educational sphere of Pisa: on the square there is a building of a higher educational institution - the Normal School, it and Palazzo della Carovana, a former knight's palace.

The most interesting detail of this building is the decoration of the facade, made using a special sgraffito technique. The walls of the palace are covered with images of the zodiac signs and allegorical figures, decorated with the coat of arms of the famous Medici dynasty and sculpted busts of masters of the knightly order. Inside the building, ancient paintings from the 16th century are still preserved.

Also in the square you can see the only Renaissance church in Pisa, built in the mid-16th century, Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, the Palazzo del Orologio (“Clock Tower”) and the Church of Saint Rocco.

Churches of Pisa

Italy is one of those countries where you can find architectural landmarks associated with religion on every corner. We are, of course, talking about temples, cathedrals and churches, of which there are a lot in Pisa. In addition to the Cathedral in the Square of Miracles in Pisa, there are also the following structures of this kind:

1. Santa Maria della Spina is a 13th-century Gothic temple, one of the most striking examples of Gothic architecture not only in Italy, but throughout Europe. According to legend, the thorn from the wreath that was placed on the head of Jesus, crucified on Golgotha, was once kept here.
2. San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno is a church on the banks of the Arno River, built in the Romanesque style. This is one of the oldest buildings in Pisa: the exact year of its creation is still unknown, but researchers have established that the church definitely existed here already at the beginning of the 11th century. A unique painting dating back to the 12th century has been preserved on the walls of the temple to this day.
3. Santo Sepolcro is an octagonal Romanesque church built at the beginning of the 12th century. The architect of the building was Diotisalvi - the same man who, many years later, participated in the construction of the Pisa Cathedral and the Baptistery in the Square of Miracles. The name of the church is translated as “Church of the Holy Sepulcher”: according to legend, valuable relics brought from the Jerusalem temple were located here for some time.
4. San Nicola. The first mention of this attraction dates back to the end of the 11th century. Many years later, the church was expanded, a chapel was added to it, and new altars were added. The building is interesting not only for its architecture and appearance, but also for its interior decoration. Ancient canvases and frescoes by artists of the 14th-15th centuries are still kept here.
5. San Piero a Grado is the oldest architectural monument, which is located in the quarter with the same name. When archaeological excavations were carried out here, traces of an even more ancient structure were discovered - an early Christian temple. The construction of San Piero a Grado began in the 10th century. Today, the church has preserved frescoes from the 14th century, and above the main altar there is a wooden crucifix made in the 17th century.
6. San Sisto is a 12th-century stone church built in the Roman-Pisan architectural style. Every year on August 6, San Sisto holds solemn memorial events dedicated to all residents of the city who died in wars.

If you are visiting the city of Pisa, be sure to take the time to explore these unique attractions with centuries of history. Ancient architecture, majestic facades, stunning ancient frescoes - all this is truly worthy of attention.

Quarter of San Martino

The city of Pisa is famous primarily for its architecture, so tourists especially enjoy a walk through the San Martino quarter, where ancient sights can be found literally on every corner. Many travelers prefer to explore the quarter on their own, leisurely wandering through its picturesque streets. By the way, this is where the beautiful church of Santo Sepolcro, which has already been mentioned above, is located.

Italy is famous for its luxurious medieval palaces, and Pisa's San Martino is one of those quarters where there are especially many of them. Particularly notable are Palazzo Tizzoni and Palazzo Cevoli. The Tizzoni family, famous in Pisa, once lived in the first of them. The main and most valuable attractions of this palace are a beautiful marble bas-relief depicting the young savior of Pisa, Chinziki dei Sismondi (in the 11th century she defended the city from the attack of Turkish troops), and an ancient Roman sarcophagus dating back to the 3rd-4th century. The famous Cevoli family also lived in Palazzo Cevoli, which once hosted the Danish king Federico IV. In memory of this, an inscription in Latin remained on the facade of the palace, and inside, on the walls of the building, frescoes are still preserved, on which you can see representatives of the royal dynasty.

San Martino stretches along the Lungarno Galilei promenade. This gives the quarter a special beauty: in the evening, dozens of lights are lit in ancient buildings, they are reflected in the water surface, and the atmosphere of the area becomes simply amazing.

No less beautiful is another embankment of San Martino - Lungarno Fibonacci, named after the famous mathematician. It was here that there was a place for another beautiful and fascinating attraction - the majestic fortress of Fortezza Sangallo, inside of which there is an impressive garden called Giardino Scotto - in memory of the former owners of the fortress. Today the garden has become a public park and is one of the largest in Pisa.

Now you know what to see when visiting a small Italian city famous throughout the world. Thanks to a trip to Pisa, many travelers remember Italy with special delight for a long time, because the sights of the “Tuscan Pearl” leave a truly indelible impression.

Sights of Pisa - Pisa what to see? Hotels, all about Pisa, photos of Pisa, how to get to the city of Pisa?

City of Pisa (Pisa), located in the north, was one of the largest Italian cities, a powerful maritime power, an eternal rival, and. Today the city no longer has access to the sea - but can still be easily reached due to the fact that Pisa is only a few kilometers from the Tyrrhenian coast - but its fame continues to resound throughout the world. Of course, we are talking about the famous tower, tilted from its vertical axis. But the leaning tower is just one of many attractions in this city of Greek origin. Having been in the shadow for centuries, which is located at a distance of about seventy kilometers, it is safe to say that Pisa can “give a head start” to the capital of Tuscany, because this city “hides” so many magnificent churches, towers, historical buildings and beautiful residences that during A walking tour through the streets of Pisa will simply take your breath away.

Most of the tourist beauty is concentrated in Piazza del Duomo, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands. Here you will also see a surprising number of souvenir shops offering tourists miniature replicas of the tower in all different aspects (even towers that glow in the dark). The Leaning Tower of Pisa owes its worldwide fame to Galileo Galilei: legend says that the philosopher, in order to demonstrate the law of falling bodies, climbed this tower and threw objects made of various materials from above.

Everyone thinks that the Tower of Pisa is a completely unique phenomenon. However, there are still many historical buildings in the city, leaning like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The fact is that the Pisa soil consists of clay and sand, which over time leads to displacements in the structure of the foundation of ancient buildings. Thus, the bell tower of the Church of San Nicola has a slope of 2.5 degrees, and the bell tower of the Church of San Michele Scalzi has the same slope as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

How to get to Pisa?

The famous city of Pisa is easily accessible by car and bus via the motorway, by ship from the nearby port of Livorno, by train and of course by air thanks to Galileo Galilei International Airport.

By plane

The international airport, which is located in Pisa, is named after the famous physicist Galileo Galilei. It is located just 5 minutes by bus, train or car from the city center. This is a large international airport that serves international and national airlines; tourists fly here to then travel to various cities in the Tuscany region (for example, Siena). To easily book tickets to Pisa, visit the large air ticket search engine Aviasales.ru, where in a matter of minutes you can select the desired flight and pay for the trip.

Landing at Pisa airport, you can easily reach the city center. You can take the train connecting the airport arrivals terminal to Pisa train station.

In addition, there is a bus service from the airport every 10 minutes (line LAM Rossa) that connects the airport with the Central Station and the city center of Pisa. The bus station is located outside the airport - on the arrival side. By the way, there is a bus from Pisa airport to Florence railway station.

The most convenient way to get to Pisa from the airport is to book an airport transfer to Pisa. This solution can be very beneficial for a group of tourists of 3-4 people. To get around the city, you can order a taxi in Pisa with a Russian-speaking driver. You can select and order a transfer through the convenient Kiwitaxi service: you just need to choose where and where you need to get to. At the specified time, in the specified place, your personal driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name.

By train

Pisa Central Station (Pisa Centrale) is one of the main transport hubs at the regional and national level. From here it is easy to reach Florence and other Italian cities.

The station is located on the southern edge of the historic city center, approximately 1.5 km from the airport and two hundred meters from the Piazza Sant'Antonio suburban bus station.

Outside the train terminal you will find a taxi rank and bus stops with lines that take you directly to Piazza dei Miracoli and Galileo Galilei International Airport. There is a storage room inside the station.

For information on train departure and arrival times, visit www.ferroviedellostato.it.

By car

If you rented a car (you can book a car on the Rentalcars website, like the portal “Italy in Russian” already), then you can get to Pisa as follows:

From Florence- take the Firenze-Mare A11 motorway, exit at Pisa Nord, then take the SS1 Aurelia towards Pisa Sud (approx. 6 km); alternatively via Florence-Pisa-Livorno (FI-PI-LI), exit Pisa Nord-Est (to Cisanello Hospital), Pisa Airport, Pisa Aurelia (Leaning Tower of Pisa).

From Rome, Bologna- take the A1 motorway to Florence, then take the A11, exit Pisa Nord, then take the SS1 Aurelia towards Pisa Sud (approx. 6 km). Alternatively, from Rome you can take the A12-E80 to Civitavecchia, then the E80-SS1 Aurelia to Rosignano Maritime and then the A12-E80 to Pisa (Pisa Centro).

From Genoa- take the A12 Genoa-Rosignano motorway, exit Pisa Nord, then take the SS1 Aurelia towards Pisa Sud (approx. 6 km).

Access to the historic center of Pisa by car is generally prohibited.

By bus

1) From Florence airport

The center of Pisa can be reached directly from Florence airport and train station. The service is provided by Terravision.

2) Suburban buses

Pisa is served by the transport company CPT, which covers most of the province, by Lazzi buses, which connect Pisa with Lucca and Viareggio, and by Vaibus, which connects Pisa with Lucca and Pietrasanta.

3) Intercity buses

Pisa is served by intercity bus lines that connect it to various Italian regions, mainly in the south-central area:

1. Bus lines Simet - Calabria (arrival Via Pietrasantina).
2. Sena bus lines - Marche, Abruzzo, Apulia, Calabria, Campania, Sicily (arrival Via Pietrasantina).
3. Bus lines Moretti - Basilicata.
4. Bus lines Marozzi - Basilicata and Puglia.

View of the Apuan Alps from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Photo by Thinkstock

Where to stay in Pisa?

Pisa is a relatively small city, whose population does not even reach 100,000 people, but the places for recreation and stay of tourists are numerous and can satisfy every visitor to the city: those who want to stay in the comfort and luxury of five-star hotels, and those who want to spend less , saving for something fun.
If your budget is limited, choose three-star hotels, of which there are many in the city, especially in the historical center.

If you think where to stay in Pisa, then our portal “Italy in Russian” advises you to visit the website Booking.com, where you can view numerous offers from the most popular hotels in the city. Below we provide a short list of the best hotels in Pisa, according to guest reviews.

4 star hotels

Address: Via Giuseppe Mazzini 57, Pisa
Visitor rating: 8.4 out of 10

Located in the historic center of Pisa, a 5-minute walk from the train station, the elegant Hotel Bologna offers cozy rooms with private facilities (free Wi-Fi, minibar, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, large windows, wooden floors and heating ) and transfer to the airport.

Breakfast at the Bologna Hotel is served as a buffet of fruit, cold meats and fresh pastries, which can be enjoyed on the hotel's courtyard terrace. The bar offers free tastings of traditional Tuscan products.

Campo dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are a 12-minute walk from the hotel, while the motorway connecting Pisa with Florence and Livorno is 3 km away.

Room price - from 50 euros/day.

Address: Via Filippo Mazzei 2 - Angolo S.Biagio, Pisa
Visitor rating: 8.3 out of 10

The modern Hotel San Ranieri is located 10 minutes' drive from Pisa airport and 300 meters from Cisanello, this stylish hotel boasts a large garden and free services - Wi-Fi and car parking.

Rooms at the San Ranieri Hotel are equipped with a TV with Mediaset Premium channels, a minibar, air conditioning and a private bathroom. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building.

The hotel offers a buffet breakfast, and in the glass-roofed restaurant you can enjoy Tuscan cuisine, served indoors, outdoors or in your room. Hotel San Ranieri is easily accessible from the A12 motorway and is a 10-minute drive from Pisa Train Station and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Room price - from 72 euros/day.

3 star hotels

Address: Via Alessandro Della Spina 2 / 7 / 9, Pisa
Visitor rating: 8.6 out of 10

Hotel Alessandro Della Spina is just a 5-minute walk from Pisa Central Station and a 10-minute walk from the city centre. The hotel offers comfortable rooms with air conditioning, satellite TV and a private bathroom with bath or shower. There is free Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby. Breakfast at the Alessandro Della Spina Hotel includes homemade bread and croissants (included in the room rate).

Room price - from 99 euros/day.

Address: Via Risorgimento 42, Pisa
Visitor rating: 8 out of 10

Hotel Athena is just 300 meters from the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa; There is a large garden on site.

Rooms at the Athena Hotel are air conditioned and feature an LCD TV with satellite channels, a mini fridge and a private bathroom. You will find free Wi-Fi in the lobby.

The hotel's large garden is the ideal place to relax in the fresh air and enjoy a coffee or cocktail. The hotel offers free parking (spaces are limited).

Room price - from 67 euros/day.

Sights of Pisa

Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli)

The main religious monuments of the city are collected here: in addition to the leaning tower itself - the bell tower, on the wide Square of Miracles there is a Cathedral (therefore another name for the square is Cathedral), a Baptistery and an ancient cemetery.

In 1155, the Square of Miracles was surrounded by walls, and a century later a cemetery (in its northern part) and a new hospital (in its southern part) appeared here. The Square of Miracles acquired its familiar modern appearance around .

You can get to Miracle Square from the station by bus No. 3.

Square of Miracles. Photo by Thinkstock

Leaning Tower (Torre pendente)

This is a world-famous symbol not only of Pisa itself, but also of the entire tourist industry. Construction of the bell tower began in 1173, but due to subsidence of the soil and the resulting tilt after the completion of the third floor, the construction of the tower was suspended until 1275, when it was finally decided to complete its construction. But the construction of the belfry itself ended only in the second half of the 14th century. The height of the tower is 56.7 meters. Pisa-born Galileo Galilei used the tilt of the tower for his experiments on free-falling bodies.

Over the past eight centuries, the tower has deviated from its axis by approximately two meters 60 cm. A very slow but constant increase in inclination continued, but scientists continued to make attempts to stop this process and secure the tower - using, for example, the installation of steel cables in 1996, or removing part of the soil in the northern part of its foundation. Currently, the tilt angle of the tower is 3° 54".

Falling tower. Photo by Thinkstock

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is open to the public all days from 9.00 to 19.00 (from March to October), from 8.30 to 20.30 (from April to September) and from 9.30 to 17.00 (from November to February). From June 14 to September 15, there are also night visits to the tower from 20.30 to 23.00. The cost of going up, where there are 294 steps, is 15 euros.

Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Cathedral of Pisa, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was begun in 1064 by the architect Busceto, who added elements of Norman, Byzantine, early Christian and even Arabic architecture to the traditional Romanesque style, trying with this original mixture to emphasize the scale of trade relations and the greatness of the Pisa Maritime Republic, and at the same time trying to surpass the “competitors” the Venetians, who built St. Mark’s Cathedral during the same period.

The Pisa Cathedral was completed in the 12th century by the architect Rainaldo, who designed its magnificent façade. The current appearance of the cathedral is the result of numerous restorations carried out at different times. Its interior, built in the shape of a Latin cross, is a real museum in terms of the number of works of art collected here. In the 19th century, however, some of the cathedral's sculptures were replaced by copies, and the originals were moved to the cathedral museum.

The facade of the Pisa Cathedral and its interior decoration. Photo by Thinkstock

You can visit the Pisa Cathedral: in winter from 10.00 to 12.45 and from 15.00 to 16.45 (on weekdays) and from 15.00 to 16.45 on holidays. In spring and autumn the cathedral is open from 9.00 to 17.40, in summer - from 8.00 to 19.40. Entry cost is 2 euros.

Baptistery

The Baptistery (baptistery), dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is another component of the monumental complex Square of Miracles.

Its construction began in the second half of the 12th century by the architect Diotisalvi; it was built intermittently over almost two centuries. Many of the sculptures decorating the facade, as well as the pulpit, depicting scenes from the life of Christ, were created by Nicola Pisano.

Ambon Baptistery. Photo arte.it

Devoid of any special decoration in its interior, the baptistery has exceptional acoustics and is the largest in Italy - its circumference is 107.24 m.

Baptistery . F by Thinkstock

The Baptistery is open to the public every day except January 1 and December 25, in winter - from 9.00 to 16.40, in spring and autumn - from 9.00 to 17.40, in summer - from 8.00 to 19.40. The cost of a full ticket is 5 euros, a reduced ticket is 2 euros.

Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto monumentale)

In the northern part of the Square of Miracles there is a Monumental Cemetery. The land itself, on which there are numerous tombstones of prominent residents of Pisa, is considered holy, brought by the crusaders from Mount Golgotha. The decorative elements include works of art from the Etruscan, Roman and medieval periods. The cemetery was founded in 1277, and its construction was completed at the end of the 16th century. Restoration of the frescoes damaged by the bombing of the Second World War is still ongoing.

Monumental cemetery. Photo by Thinkstock

The Camposanto cemetery is open to the public on all days except January 1 and December 25, in winter from 9.00 to 16.40, in spring and autumn from 9.00 to 17.40, in summer from 8.00 to 19.40. The cost of a full ticket is 5 euros, a reduced ticket is 2 euros.

Piazza dei Cavalieri

Piazza dei Cavalieri or the Square of the Knights is one of the most famous squares in all of Pisa due to its unforgettable combination of antiquity and modernity. Here are some of the most important historical buildings of Pisa, such as the Palazzo dell'Orologio, built on the site where the Torre Muda once stood, a terrible place where Count Ugolino and his sons were starved to death in 1288 (whose story is told in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy); the Palazzo dei Cavalieri, designed by Vasari, and the church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. Buildings that “welcome” the future are also located here: for example, the Scuola Normale Superiore, one of the most important universities in all of Italy, whose physics department is one of the most popular and prestigious on the Italian peninsula.

Piazza dei Cavalieri. Photo by Thinkstock

Museum of Art of the Pisa Cathedral (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo)

Located in the former monastery of Capuchin monks, the museum preserves the history of the monuments of the Square of Miracles. Here are outstanding works by such masters as Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Tino da Camaino, as well as the Treasure of the Cathedral, wood inlays, chorales decorated with miniatures, church utensils and other exhibits. The museum is located next to the Leaning Tower.

Museum of Ancient Ships (Museo delle navi antiche)

This is an archaeological museum in the process of its formation. In December 1998, during the construction of a railway junction, the remains of ancient ships were discovered, as well as the city port, preserved in excellent condition. Soon they were put on public display, and in addition to the exhibits already on display, everyone can follow the progress of the restoration work.

Museum exhibit. Photo: iltirreno.gelocal.it

The museum is open to visitors every Friday and Saturday from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.30 to 15.30. Groups can book a visit to the museum on other days. You can get to the museum on foot from the Square of Miracles.

Embankments of the Arno River (Lungarni)

Pisa is also famous for its picturesque embankments. This is a meeting place for both local youth and tourists. The banks of the Arno River are decorated with numerous palaces, bridges, towers and churches, the most famous of which are the Medici Palace, the Toscanelli Palace, and the Church of St. Matthew. There are also numerous restaurants and bars here. Every year on June 16, the day of the city's patron saint, Saint Ranieri, the banks of the Arno River, as well as all the buildings located on the embankments, are decorated with numerous lights, the play of which leaves an unforgettable impression.

Embankment of the Arno River. Photo by Thinkstock

Church of St. Catherine (Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria)

Built in the second half of the 13th century for the Dominican Order, the church has a beautiful facade of white and gray marble, with a covered gallery in the Gothic style and a large central round window. The interior of the church was rebuilt in the second half of the 17th century after a fire damaged it, and houses frescoes, paintings and sculptures by famous masters of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Church of St. Catherine is located on the Square of Martyrs for Freedom.

Church of St. Catherine. Photo it.wikipedia.org

Church of Santa Maria della Spina

This small Gothic-style church got its name (spina - thorn) because, according to legend, it was here that one of the thorns from the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ was kept from 1333 until the 19th century, until the relic was transferred to the Church of St. Chiara. Compared to the rich exterior, the interior of the church seems quite modest. However, here you can see such masterpieces of Gothic sculpture as the Madonna della Rosa (Andrea and Nino Pisano), as well as the treasury created in 1534 by the sculpture Staggio Staggi, which housed the holy relic.

Church of Santa Maria della Spina. Photo by Thinkstock

The church is located on the Arno embankment, near the Solferino bridge, and is open to the public every day except Monday.

Church of St. Paul at the cliff (Chiesa di San Paolo a ripa d'Arno)

Address: P.zza San Paolo a ripa d'Arno, 21

This church, located along the Arno Embankment, in a southern direction, was supposedly built in the ninth century, but was consecrated by Eugene III only in 1148.

The architecture of the church is impressive: it is easy to recognize the style that characterizes many of the facades of church buildings in Pisa - “blind” passages with pointed arches, characteristic geometric elements, three gates and the upper part of the facade, designed in the style of the Pisa Cathedral.

It is likely that the church previously resembled even more the vaults of the Pisa Duomo, given that the building underwent several façade reconstructions after World War II.

Church of San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno. Photo: Thinkstock

Borgo Stretto

This is the most famous area in Pisa. It is located next to the medieval arches of the Lungarno promenade. Here you can admire two other leaning towers of Pisa: the one belonging to the Church of San Nicola (2.5 degrees of inclination) and the one located at the Church of San Michele Scalzi (5 degrees of inclination). Among the churches in the area, it is worth visiting the Romanesque architectural gem, San Michele in Borgo.

Church of San Michele in Borgo

Address: Borgo Stretto, 10

The church and adjacent monastery, which belonged to the Benedictine order of monks, were built around 1016 and rebuilt several times after the bombing of World War II.

The facade of the church is in the traditional Pisan Romanesque style with Gothic influences: the lower part dates back to the thirteenth century, while the upper loggias were created from the fourteenth century.

The monumental three-nave interior preserves a crucifix by Nino Pisano (14th century), paintings by Matteo Rosselli (Immaculate Conception), Baccio Lomi (Madonna and Child with Saints), Aurelio Lomi (Virtue), Giuseppe Melani (Nativity) and the remains of frescoes from the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries.

Fragments of the church pulpit, which is attributed to the master Andrea Pisano, are contained in the National Museum of San Matteo.

Church of San Michele in Borgo. Photo by Thinkstock

St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro Apostolo)

Address: San Piero a Grado

St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most important churches in all of Pisa. The basilica was proclaimed. The church is a unique example of ecclesiastical architecture typical of Pisa, predating the construction of the Pisa Cathedral. The basilica was built near a vanished river port called Grado, where, according to legend, Saint Peter descended to earth in 44.

Excavations uncovered the foundations of an early Christian church built on the ruins of Roman civil buildings, later replaced by a larger church in the 8th-9th centuries. The present building, which was built in the tenth century and altered at the end of the eleventh, has a three-nave structure with the unusual presence of two apses, from which the western one was built, perhaps after the destruction in a flood of the facade and the entrance door on the north side.

The church is lined with unique ceramic fragments (copies; the originals are in the National Museum of San Matteo) from the Islamic world, Mallorca and Sicily, laid out in complex geometric shapes (X-XII centuries).

The impressive 12th-century bell tower was destroyed on July 22, 1944 by soldiers of the retreating Wehrmacht and only its base was then rebuilt. Inside the basilica there are three bells taken from the ruins of the bell tower; The bell tower is currently under reconstruction.

Also inside you can see the place where St. Peter preached for the first time.

St. Peter's Basilica. Photo by Thinkstock

On the walls of the nave you can see a huge cycle of frescoes, recently restored, commissioned by the Gaetani family for the anniversary of Pope Boniface VIII (Benedetto Caetani).

It also houses ancient portraits of popes, ranging from St. Peter to John XVII (1003): this series of portraits is unique today after the catastrophic fire in 1823 that almost completely destroyed the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, where the famous series of portraits of Popes was located.

Address: Via Luca Ghini, 13

Visiting: Mon-Fri from 8.30 to 17.30; Saturday 8.30-13.

Tickets: €2.50 full; 1.5 euro discount

Botanical Garden of the University of Pisa. Photo: Thinkstock

The Botanical Garden of the University of Pisa is one of the oldest botanical gardens on the planet. It arose under the name Giardino dell "Arzinale in 1544, thanks to the efforts of Luca Ghini and the finances of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. The botanical garden competes with the botanical garden for the title of the oldest in the world. The garden changed its location several times until 1591, when it was finally settled at the present address. In the Botanical Garden of Pisa you can see more than 550 species of rare plants from all over the world.

Royal Palace and National Museum

The Royal Palace was built in 1583 according to the design of Bernardo Buontalenti for Francesco I de' Medici near the church and monastery of St. Matthew.

Currently, there is a National Museum here, which stores numerous evidence of residence in the palace of noble Tuscan families: works of artists of the 4th century, sculptures of the 13th-15th centuries, furniture, tapestries, ancient weapons, a large collection of medieval ceramics.

National Museum of the Royal Palace. Photo by Thinkstock

The National Museum is located on the Arno River embankment, open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 14.30, on Saturday from 9.00 to 13.30. The cost of a full ticket is 6.50 euros, a reduced ticket is 1.50.

What to try in Pisa

Everyone knows that it is one of the most excellent on the planet, combining the seemingly incompatible - health benefits and unsurpassed taste. Going to the city of Pisa, you can fully enjoy this great tradition of the Tuscans - eating deliciously and a lot.

Cheeses and meats are the main products of this area. One of the most notable cheeses of the area is Pecorino del Parco di Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli, a semi-hard cheese with a sweet taste. Another delicious cheese treat is Pecorino Pisano, available in both “young” and aged versions.

Among the sausages, the most famous are the spicy salami Mallegato Pisano and the cured Pisa pork shoulder.

For starters, you should try the most popular dishes in Pisa - Pisa soup, San Michele white bean soup or frog soup. For those for whom frog legs do not inspire much confidence, the menus of local restaurants offer a delicious soup made from 13 types of seafood, cacciucco.

Meat lovers probably know that in Pisa, as in other cities, they make excellent IGP grilled or charcoal Chianina beef - simple and incredibly tasty! You can also try the traditional Tuscan dish, "trippa" - stuffed veal stomach with vegetables.

For dessert, you will be offered a cake with pine nuts "torta coi bischeri", flatbread "castagnaccio", again, with pine nuts and walnuts, or the famous almond cookies "ricciarelli".

Pisa Restaurants

Here is a list of some restaurants and taverns, famous and very popular in Pisa, where you can enjoy a wonderful lunch or a hearty dinner.

Trattoria Il Campano

Address: Via D. Cavalca, 19

An ideal place to enjoy typical dishes of the Tuscan tradition. The establishment is located in the historical center of Pisa.

Ristorante Squisitia

Address: Via Filippo Mazzei, 2

Fresh ingredients, vegetarian options, gluten free and children's options are the key words in the menu of this restaurant located on Via San Biagio.

Osteria dei cavalieri

Address: Via San Frediano, 16

This is a restaurant that offers the best Tuscan cuisine in an original and creative way.

Bar Settimelli

Address: Borgo stretto, 34

This bar is one of the most famous bars in Pisa, opened in the thirties and still remains a meeting place for locals and tourists.

La Vecchia Cascina

Address: S. Biagio

On Via San Biagio, in the building of an old Tuscan farm, there is a restaurant that offers excellent pizza and Tuscan cuisine.

Osteria I miei Sapori

Address: via della Faggiola 20

This establishment specializes in typical Tuscan recipes and is located in the historic center of Pisa.

Holidays in Pisa

In Pisa, ancient traditions are revered sacredly, organizing folk and historical holidays, some of which are more than 6 centuries old.

The inhabitants of Pisa consider the most important holiday Patron Saint's Day of San Ranieri, which is also called Luminara. The holiday is celebrated on June 17. On the evening before the day of the patron saint, San Ranieri, candles are lit on the facades of monuments, houses and cathedrals, along the Arno embankment and in squares, and, of course, candles are placed on the main attraction of Pisa, the Leaning Tower. The spectacle, I must say, is truly extraordinary. The next day, the historic boat race, the San Ranieri Regatta, takes place on the Arno, with the participation of four teams from the city's quarters, preceded by the transfer of the San Ranieri altar on a galleon from the ancient maritime republic of Pisa. A parade in historical costumes accompanied by medieval music takes place through the streets of Pisa. A festive fair runs all day along the Lungarni embankments.

Saint Ranieri's Day. Photo: flickr

Also in June, another important historical festival takes place in Pisa, which is called "Gioco del Ponte". The festival of the “game on the bridge” originated in Pisa back in the Middle Ages, when the Pisan knights, tired of military campaigns, “amused themselves” with battles on heavy clubs called “Mazza Scudo”. The “game” was played with the use of real tools and was not without injury to the participants, so it was officially banned in the 19th century. The ancient game was revived in the 20th century as a historical reconstruction, where dangerous battles were replaced by pulling carts and complemented by a costumed historical procession of participants along the Ponte di Mezzo bridge.

Gioco del Ponte. Photo: Thinkstock

In August, on the 6th, Pisa celebrates San Sisto day: folklore shows and celebrations are held in the church dedicated to the saint.

Another spectacular sight is Historical Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics(which takes place every four years, alternating in one of the four ancient maritime republics of Pisa, Amalfi, Genoa and Venice).

The small Italian city of Pisa became famous throughout the world for its leaning tower. Almost all organized tours in Italy include a visit to this unusual landmark, which has been in danger of completely falling for centuries and is only standing thanks to constant work to strengthen it. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in Piazza dei Miracoli (“Place of Miracles”). There are several more architectural masterpieces here. The ensemble of the square is included in the UNESCO list.

There are other equally interesting and picturesque places in Pisa. A popular city quarter is Borgo Stretto, which is an example of medieval buildings typical of Western Europe in the 13th-14th centuries. A must-visit in Pisa should be its wonderful museums, where you can admire the works of sculptors and artists who worked during the Middle Ages and Modern times.

The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see and where to go in Pisa?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.

The most famous landmark of Pisa, known throughout the world thanks to a mistake made during construction. The building is part of the architectural complex of the Pisa Cathedral and is its bell tower. The tower was erected during the XII-XIV centuries according to the design of B. Pisano. Almost immediately, the building began to deviate from the vertical axis, which is why work was constantly suspended. The defect could not be corrected, but the inexorable fall of the tower was stopped by fixing the tilt at 3.54°.

Cathedral of Pisa, located in Piazza del Duomo. The architectural complex includes the cathedral building itself, the bell tower (the famous leaning tower) and the baptistery. The ensemble was erected during the XI-XIII centuries. in the “Pisan” Romanesque style, which combined elements of Lombard, Byzantine and Islamic construction styles. White and black marble were used in large quantities in the decoration of the facade and interior.

A magnificent Gothic building from the 12th to 14th centuries, designed by the architect Diotisalvi. The Baptistery is considered the largest in Italy. The building reaches a height of 55 meters, the diameter of the ring of walls is 34 meters. According to the original project, the building was planned to be built in the Romanesque style, but the duration of construction work of almost 200 years made it possible to add more elegant features of the Gothic style to the appearance.

Necropolis from the 13th century, located in the northern part of Piazza dei Miracoli. It was assumed that a church was to be built on the site of the cemetery, but during the work the project was changed. Campo Santo is a rather unusual place, since the burials are located in a stone wall under the arches of an arched gallery that surrounds the courtyard. There are three chapels on the cemetery grounds. Until the 18th century, representatives of the upper classes of Pisa were buried in this necropolis.

Historical urban area located in the center of Pisa. From an architectural point of view, it is a classic “stone bag” with narrow streets, houses characterized by blank medieval walls, and small picturesque squares. Nowadays, the territory of Borgo Stretto is home to numerous street restaurants with excellent Italian cuisine, souvenir shops, coffee shops and stalls with various delicacies.

For many centuries, the square was an important public place where government decrees were announced, victories were celebrated and the political situation was discussed. The piazza was built during the Early Middle Ages on the site of a former Roman forum. It is surrounded by palazzos and administrative buildings, built mainly in the 16th-17th centuries. In 1406, the independence of Pisa was announced in the Square of the Knights.

A 16th-century building that previously served as the home of knights belonging to the Tuscan Order of St. Stephen. The building was erected according to the design of the architect D. Vasari. Today, a higher education institution is located on the territory of the palace. Visiting the palazzo is only possible during the absence of lectures. The façade of the building is painted using the sgraffito technique; it depicts zodiac signs and symbolic figures surrounded by floral patterns.

The museum displays fragments of frescoes (more precisely, sketches for frescoes) that previously decorated the walls of Campo Santo. After World War II, during restoration work, these images were discovered under the top layers of plaster. In addition to the blanks for the frescoes, in the museum you can see a model of the Campo Santo cemetery from previous eras and an installation dedicated to the problem of strengthening the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The museum's collection consists of works of art that previously decorated the walls of the Pisa Cathedral and the Baptistery of St. John. The exhibition is located in a 12th-century building that was previously used as a seminary and academy of fine arts. The museum houses valuable sculptures created by T. Di Camaino and D. Pisano in the 13th century, bronze doors made in the 12th century, as well as frescoes, paintings, clothing and other exhibits belonging to the 17th-18th centuries.

The exhibition is located in the monastery of the same name. It is dedicated to the cultural history of the Middle Ages and contains priceless works of art created by Tuscan masters in the 12th-17th centuries. Works by D. Pisano, B. Berlinghieri, B. Buffalmacco, S. Aretino and other sculptors are exhibited in San Matteo. The famous work of Donatello, the bust of San Lussorio, is also kept here. In the museum you can look at medieval manuscripts dating from the 12th to 14th centuries.

Palazzo Blue is an art museum located in a historic 14th-century mansion, which previously changed hands frequently and belonged to different families. Until 2001, representatives of the noble Julie family lived in the building, then it was transferred to the management of cultural authorities. After reconstruction, an exhibition consisting of works by D. Battista, J.-B. was placed in the palazzo. Desmarais, D. Bezzuoli, F. Bellonzi and other artists.

A 19th-century temple built in a Gothic style on the site of an old 13th-century church. The church façade is distinguished by its rich decor and abundance of elegant details. The interior space looks quite modest compared to the exterior decoration. The most important relic of Santa Maria della Spina is the tabernacle, in which, according to Christian belief, the thorn from Jesus' crown of thorns was once kept in the 14th century.

13. Church of Sao Paulo Ripa d'Arno

A temple of Romanesque architecture, the first mention of which dates back to the 10th century. Previously, it played a fairly important role in the religious life of Pisa, so the unofficial name “Duomo Vecchio” was assigned to the church, which means “old cathedral”. Inside the temple there are several ancient relics: a Roman sarcophagus of the 2nd century, a crucifix created in the 13th century, as well as frescoes of the 13th-14th centuries, painted by B. Buffalmaco.

Temple of the 9th (10th) century, erected on the site of an early Christian chapel. Even earlier, Roman residential areas were located here. In this very place, in 44, the Apostle Peter celebrated his first Mass. The church is located in the town of San Pietro a Grado, which belongs to the Pisa commune. The painting on the interior walls of the basilica dates back to the 14th century and later periods. The temple is a valuable monument of Romanesque architecture.

A 13th-century structure erected on the embankment of the Arno River. Previously, the citadel with the adjacent tower was part of the city's defensive fortifications. At the beginning of the 15th century, the military garrison of Pisa was located here. For many centuries the citadel served a defensive function. During World War II, the building was heavily damaged by bombing. In 1956 it was restored, trying to give it its original appearance.

A small central bridge over the Arno River, located near Santa Maria della Spina. All tourists who travel from Pisa Central Station to Piazza del Duomo, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located, pass through it. The bridge offers magnificent views of the river, embankments and ancient houses. The building itself is made in a rather modest manner without any architectural frills.

The water artery of Tuscany, which originates in the Apennines and flows into the Ligurian Sea. The river flows through Florence and Pisa. The length of the Arno is 248 km. It flows through picturesque plains, hills, vineyards, cypress groves and fields that make up the pastoral landscapes of this part of Italy. Periodically, the river overflows its banks as a result of floods. The largest natural disaster was recorded in 1966.

The garden was founded in the 16th century by the botanist L. Ghini at the expense of the Tuscan ruler, Duke Cosimo I. It is considered one of the oldest botanical gardens not only in Italy, but throughout the world. In 1595, a building was erected here to house an institute for plant research. The garden's plant diversity includes about 550 species collected from different parts of Europe and the world. The Arboretum is managed by the University of Pisa.

The garden is located on the southern bank of the Arno on the territory of the Citadel Nuova fortress, which was founded in the 15th century. The landscape park was laid out in the 19th century according to the design of D. Kaluri. The Scotto Garden hosts a variety of public events such as concerts, theater productions, museum exhibitions and film screenings. The park is planted with picturesque Mediterranean vegetation. It is an ideal place for relaxing walks.

Regional park of the province of Tuscany, created in 1979. There are several ecosystems located on the territory of the reserve: swamps, sand dunes, a lake, and a coastal zone. The park is home to a wide variety of birds. Within the reserve are the towns of Torre del Lago and Massaciuccoli (composer D. Puccini lived here for a long time). The administration is located in a 19th-century villa, which is also a local landmark.

• Pisa is known to the world thanks to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Tourists who think the tower is the only attraction here will miss out on the rest of the architectural and artistic wonders of this beautiful city.
• The half-hour walk from Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) to the train station takes you through a pedestrian street lined with attractions, shops and restaurants. The best way to get to know Pisa is to stroll along the streets, as the center is very small.
• The city comes alive with students who organize parties, shows and cultural events. They fill the main street of the city at night. The University of Pisa has 60,000 students, when the total population of the city is about 100,000. You'll feel the student spirit as soon as you leave the touristy Campo dei Miracoli.

• Pisa is a quiet city, you don't have to worry about your safety (except in some places at night, for example the area around the station). Regardless, you should take the obvious precautions (if you're staying in a very cheap hotel, keep valuables with you) and beware of pickpockets in tourist areas.
• You can book a hotel in Pisa at, and you can check if there is a more attractive price somewhere, at. Some travelers prefer to rent private apartments - such offers can be viewed. If you are looking for a package tour from Russia to Pisa - take a look

How to get there

By plane

Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport

The main airport of Tuscany with several airlines with hundreds of departures per day, both domestic and international. Countless companies offer charter flights from several European and other destinations. Flying to Pisa is really easy and convenient: the most well-known and inexpensive airlines serve flights to Pisa. You can choose the best option. The airport is located close to the city center - in just a few minutes you can reach the center by bus, train or taxi. The airport can also be easily reached on foot, which takes about twenty minutes.

Don't expect the airport to be open 24 hours a day. Many small airports in Europe operate on a specific schedule.

How to get to the city?

You can buy bus tickets at the information desk in the arrivals hall. The bus (The Red Line or LAM Rosso to Jacobo) runs every 10-15 minutes. The bus goes to Piazza dei Miracoli and to the central station. Since the ticket machine “speaks” only Italian, it is better to buy tickets at the information desk. Each ticket costs €1.20, but if you buy them from the bus driver it will cost you €2.00. You can buy a ticket in all shops and bookstores. An automated road is currently being built, along which it will be possible to travel between the airport and the station.

Bus station

The bus station is located opposite the airport. Once you are in the city, you can easily locate all the main attractions, which are located within walking distance. If you are catching a bus from the train station, then you will need to cross the road in front of the station and go to the right.

If you prefer a more convenient way to travel, a taxi will cost you around €6-8. Otherwise, as an alternative, you can pre-book transport to the airport. This service is especially convenient for large groups.

“Easy Private Taxi” will provide transport to the city for €36 Mercedes E class, €43 minivan.

123 Transfers offers transport to the city for €37.50 sedan (3 people), €50 minivan (8 people).

By car with a companion

This is one of the most convenient ways to get to Pisa. You can spread the costs and make travel cheaper. You can find a car that will take you to Pisa on the website: Passaggio.it

By train

In Pisa there are daily trains to Florence and Lucca (usually every hour), you can also get there by bus, there is an international airport.

Pisa Centrale is the main station in Pisa. Trains from Rome to Genova stop at Pisa Centrale. If you plan to travel only within Pisa, then this is also convenient. Pisa Centrale has luggage storage facilities available from six in the morning until nine in the evening. Storage of each bag costs three euros. If you are in the city just to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can go down to the Pisa S. Rossore station, which is closer to the tower. Be sure to check train schedules as not all trains may stop. Be that as it may, there are regional trains to Florence that run every hour at the forty-sixth minute (as on July 9, 2012).

Clue:

Pisa - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Pisa - weather by month

Clue:

Pisa - weather by month

Main attractions. What to see

Pisa is divided into four historical squares. There is more to see than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Several different routes are available.

Piazza dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is located in the north of the center of Pisa. This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents various attractions of the city:

Other historical buildings include: the Church of San Rocco, the Priest's House, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.

Museo di San Matteo, Piazza San Matteo, 1, lungarno Mediceo, +39 50 541865. This is a fantastic museum of history and art, whose buildings are full of paintings. It is quite small, but one of the largest for Tuscan Renaissance painting, located in the premises of the monastery of San Matteo. This treasure is overlooked by many tourists.

Lungarno Mediceo and Lungarno Pacinotti on the north side of the Arno, Lungarno Galilei and Lungarno Gambacorti on the south: these riverside streets give Pisa a completely unique character, especially in the evening when the lanterns reflect on the waters of the Arno. Along Lungarni there are interesting places:

Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza XX Settembre, two opposite city squares, at the ends of the Ponte di Mezzo (middle bridge). Considered the center of the city. From Piazza Garibaldi begins Borgo Stretto, an ancient street with many shops that, together with Corso Italia, create a pedestrian area (interrupted only by a bridge) that is the city center. In Piazza XX Settembre you can find the Logge dei Banchi, a textile market building dating back to 1600, and the town hall in Palazzo del Comune.

Santo Sepolcro, on Lungarno Galilei, is an octagonal Romanesque church with a conical spire, built by Diotisalvi.

Ussero Café, founded in 1775, lungarno Pacinotti 27. Monument to Italian culture in the 1400th Palazzo Agostini, on Lungarno. In 1839, the first meeting of the Congress of Italian Scientists took place here.

Santa Maria della Spina. A very small Gothic church on Lungarno Gambacorti, built in 1230 to house the thorn from the crown of Jesus. This church is considered one of the most prominent representatives of Gothic art. Due to its small size, the church was moved a little higher from the Arno River in 1800 to protect it from flooding.

Giardino Scotto, on Lungarno Fibonacci at the end of Lungarno Galilei. A former fortress converted into a public park, open in the summer for open-air cinema screenings, concerts and other events.

La Cittadella (The Citadel). A fortress at the end of Lungarno Simonelli, built to guard the entrance to the Arno River, as well as a former shipyard from the Middle Ages.

University Botanical Garden, via Luca Ghini 5. The first botanical garden in Europe, created by order of Cosimo de' Medici in 1544. The garden is open on weekday mornings, admission is free.

Beautiful Romanesque churches - San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a gallery of sculptures inside.

Tuttomondo, fresco by Keith Haring. Keith Haring visited Pisa and fell in love with the city, so he decided to paint a magnificent fresco as a gift. Although it is incredibly large, it is easy to miss, so pay attention. It is located between Giuseppe Mazzini and Massimo D'Azeglio, near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

Food. What to try

Make it a rule not to eat near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as the prices are high and the quality is low. Instead, head to the central area (5-10 minutes walk from Piazza dei Miracoli). You will find very good and cheap restaurants there. For example, there are nice cafeterias with respectable prices in the small but lively vegetable market, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Also Via San Martino, near the south bank of the river there are a couple of places with good food and low prices.

It is known that not far from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in via Roma, there is a good Indian restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere and very good, although not always cheap, dishes. In Piazza dei Miracoli there is a good restaurant-pizzeria Kinzica. In any case, don't miss Salza, in Borgo Stretto, with delicious chocolates, sweets and pastries of all kinds. Don't sit inside, if only because you'll end up paying €10 for two coffees.

Finally, there is a good pizzeria next to the Turbaza, on the road leading to Leclerc.

Safety. What to watch out for

Don't buy sunglasses, umbrellas or other trinkets from illegal sellers. Stay away from fake luxury items. Upon arrival in Pisa, tourists are surrounded by merchants. Some may be pushy or overtly aggressive. Even a simple “No, thank you” can attract unwanted attention. It's better to just ignore them. Don't be afraid to seem rude.

While low prices are tempting, especially when you're on a budget when traveling, please remember that Italian police have recently been fining tourists for purchasing from illegal traders. These fines can be very steep (up to €1000). Opposite the Tower there are several merchants who are allowed to sell various items. Remember to be responsible and buy from them. Legal traders are located at stalls along the main road.

Things to do

On June 16, the Luminaria festival takes place in Pisa, in honor of the patron saint (San Ranieri). At sunset, all the lights along the Arno go out and over 10,000 candles are lit. Various actions take place in the streets, and the night ends with big fireworks.

Another summer attraction is Gioco del Ponte (Bridge Game). Held every year on the last Sunday of June, when the two sides (Tramontana and Mezzogiorno, geographically separated by the Arno River) take part in a historical procession in the company of 709 extras, and then compete with each other in physical strength. Teams of twenty try to conquer the Ponte di Mezzo (the main bridge in Pisa) by pushing a cart off the bridge to force the opposing team to leave the bridge.

Mineral springs

Casciana Terme: The thermal water in Casciana Terme has been used since ancient times. In recent years, its use has been expanded to modern methods of rehabilitation and treatment of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, treatment of digestive functions.

San Giuliano Terme: water with a positive effect and calcium-magnesium water with sulfates, rich in vital healing elements, gushing at the foot of Mount San Giuliano from the source where various springs originate, collected in two groups and called “Eastern Baths” (temperature 40° C) and "Western Baths" (temperature 38° C).

Education

Pisa School of Advanced Study of St. Anna or Scuola Superiore Sant "Anna. Public university of applied sciences, formed from the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (School of Higher Learning in Italy i.e. Scuola Superiore Universitaria).

Located: Scuola Superiore Sant "Anna, P.zza Martiri della Libertà, 33 - 56127 - Pisa ()

Scuola Normale or Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa was founded in 1810 by order of Napoleon, as a branch of the Parisian École Normale Supérieure. Recognized as a "national university" in 1862, a year after the reunification of Italy, and called during this period the "Normal School of the Italian Kingdom". (School of Higher Education in Italy i.e. Scuola Superiore Universitaria).

Location: Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa - Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7 - 56126 Pisa ()

The University of Pisa or Università di Pisa is one of the oldest universities in Italy. Officially founded on September 3, 1343 by decree of Pope Clement VI, although lectures on law had been held in Pisa since the eleventh century. The University houses the oldest botanical garden in Europe, i.e. Orto botanico di Pisa, founded in 1544.

Located: Università di Pisa - Lungarno Pacinotti, 43 - 56126 Pisa ().

Pisa, who hasn't heard of this city? I think everyone has heard and of course, first of all, they associate it with the most famous leaning tower in the world. This article will talk about what we saw in Pisa, what surprised and pleased us, what can you see in Pisa, besides the leaning tower? How much does all this fun cost and where is the best place to park your car in Pisa.

Even though the guidebook said that Pisa is still not popular with tourists, I would say that this is not true. There are a lot of people in Piazza dei Miracoli. It was still okay in the rain, but as soon as the rain stopped there were three times more people.

The construction of the magnificent cathedral, the cathedral bell tower (Leaning Tower of Pisa) and the baptistery marked only one historical event - in 1069, the army of Pisa expelled the Saracens from Sicily. The victory was so large-scale that the city received huge funds and Pisa’s role as a powerful maritime city was strengthened. Fortune favored Pisa for three hundred years. Later, Pisa came under the rule of Florence, and the port moved to Livorno.

We parked in the underground parking lot under Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. Underground parking is always better than street parking, since street parking requires prepayment, and tourists usually do not know how long they will be walking around the city. Using underground parking, you can relax and not have to keep track of time, since the fee is taken when leaving.

Parking lots along the streets are tightly packed, and finding a free space is problematic.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Pisa

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is located one and a half kilometers from the Field of Miracles, so called Piazza dei Miracoli. This is where all the main Pisa attractions. On the one hand, it’s not the closest place, but it will allow you to walk around the city a little, look at the embankments of the Arno River and the streets of this ancient Italian city.

The river is treacherous and prone to overflowing; it is to save from this disaster that such high embankments were built.

And in the church of Santa Maria della Spina an important Christian shrine is kept - a thorn from the crown of thorns of Christ. “Spin” in translation means “thorn”.

Of course, all tourists rush to look at the leaning tower first. There is a fee to visit all sites in Piazza dei Miracoli.

Ticket prices

In total in Piazza dei Miracoli you can visit:

1. Sinopia Museum— there are sketches of famous Italian painters and an exhibition of works by the famous Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj
2. Cathedral and Cathedral Museum
3. Baptistery
4. Medieval cemetery

Accordingly, the price for:

1. One museum from the list - 5 euros
2. Two museums from the list - 7 euros
3. Three museums from the list - 8 euros
4. Four museums - 9 euros (children under 10 years old free)

However, entry to the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself costs as much as 18 euros. and there is no discount for children to enter the tower. Children under 8 years old are not allowed to visit the tower for safety reasons. I think this is how the authorities limit the flow of people. You can book a ticket for the tower. When purchasing at the box office, your turn may come 2-3 hours after purchasing your ticket. And in general there is quite a crowd at the box office.

We started at the Sinopia Museum, which is where we bought our tickets.

Museum of Sinopia in Pisa

The layout of the main square of Pisa shows exactly everything you will see, but in miniature.

All the walls of this small museum are covered with barely noticeable sketches of frescoes. The sketches have not been preserved in some places and it is quite difficult to imagine the entire plot of the fresco from just fragments of the sketches. These sketches or synopias were found under the rubble of the destroyed Camposanto cemetery.

The museum hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. We just got to an exhibition of works by the famous Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj - “Angels”. More information about the sculptor can be found on the Wikipedia website. Most of the sculptures are very large, such as the blue face, which is 3 meters high.

The exhibition by Igor Mirotai is part of the program celebrating the anniversary of the laying of the first stone of the Pisa Cathedral. 950 years have already passed since this significant event.

This is the first time that an exhibition of contemporary sculpture has been held in the Field of Miracles of Pisa. With this event, the organizers want to demonstrate the connection between eras.

Sculptures by Igor Mitoraj adorn many European cities and even the Vatican. We liked the exhibition and were impressed by what we saw.

Baptistery of Pisa

The baptistery is a baptismal area. Construction took place from 1152 to 1284, but the baptistery took its final form in the 14th century, when the Gothic dome was built. It seems that the inside of the baptistery is much larger than the outside. This is probably because there is a lot of free space there.

There is a large font in the center of the room. We climbed the ramp to the upper gallery, it was not difficult at all. A narrow staircase is located between the outer and inner walls of the baptistery.

The Pisa Baptistery is the largest in Italy and is famous for its excellent acoustics.

There are ancient graves in the floors and everyone walks on them; from the point of view of the Russian tradition, walking on graves is somehow bad, but obviously the Italians have a different opinion.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The appearance of the cathedral combines three architectural traditions - Roman, Islamic and Byzantine, due to which a new style emerged, Pisan Romanesque. Both outside and inside the cathedral looks simply superb. Looking ahead a little, I will say that the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore seemed to me much less interesting compared to the Cathedral in Pisa.

The space above the altar is decorated with a magnificent mosaic by Cimabue “The Savior on the Throne”. The Byzantine influence is felt in the mosaic; a similar image of Christ can be seen in Russian churches, which inherited icon painting traditions from the same Byzantium.

The cathedral's granite Corinthian columns previously adorned a mosque in Palermo, and were taken to Pisa after the capture of Sicily. The apse contains the noble tomb of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII, who died in Pisa in 1313.

The relics of Saint Ranieri stand in plain sight in a glass coffin. Still, the usual non-transparent sarcophagus is somehow more familiar. It didn’t seem to me that the relics were so incorruptible, but I’m not an expert in the degree of preservation of holy bones; admirers of the Saint know better. Saint Ranieri is revered as the patron saint of Pisa; holidays are held in his honor - on June 16th there are fireworks and illuminations, and on June 17th there are sailing races.

The monumental pulpit by Giovanni Pisano also survived the ill-fated fire of 1595.

Previously, the pulpit was displayed in the baptistery, but now it has been moved to the cathedral. The attention to detail is amazing, very fine work.

Campo Santo Cemetery

Unfortunately, Pisa became a battlefield during World War II and was heavily damaged by Allied bombing in 1943. The Camposanto cemetery was destroyed and was restored in the post-war years, many of the frescoes were irretrievably lost.

"Camposanto" means "holy field". This place was chosen for the main city cemetery back in the 13th century and was built up at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 15th centuries. In plan, the cemetery is a rectangular cloister, surrounded by a very simple garden.

According to legend, the soil was brought to the cemetery in the 13th century from the Holy Land specifically for the burial of noble citizens. The idea of ​​burial in the Holy Land is not unique; for example, the famous Ossuary in the Czech Republic also appeared thanks to the tradition of burial in the Holy Land.

Famous people and clergy are buried on Camposanto today. The cloister amazes the imagination with a colossal variety of funerary monuments from ancient Roman sarcophagi to completely modern sculptures

As a result of the bombing of the Allied forces, almost all the frescoes that once adorned the walls were destroyed. A significant part of the fresco "The Triumph of Death", painted by an unknown artist in memory of the plague epidemic in 1348, has survived. To preserve the fresco, it was removed from the wall and displayed under a protective screen in one of the halls on the north side of the cloister. There you can also watch a documentary about the restoration of the cemetery after the war.

For some reason, next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa there is a copy of the Roman sculpture of the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus.

And finally, about the main decoration of Piazza dei Miracoli, the leaning tower.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The leaning tower is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, this is the Italian architectural tradition of building the cathedral, bell tower and baptistery in the form of three separate buildings.

Construction of the famous Leaning Tower began in 1183. By the time the tower reached about a third of its height, it began to tilt due to the instability of the ground. Trying to correct this mistake, other architects began to build the tower at an angle, so its shape resembles a flat crescent. construction was completed around 1350. Since then she has continued to bend over.

Interesting images on the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The ships commemorate the fact that Pisa was a powerful maritime city in its heyday.

I can’t imagine what the dragon has to do with it, probably something religious.

Experts predict that it will eventually collapse. For at least a hundred years, architects from around the world have been offering their solutions to the problem. The latest measures are the use of counterweight systems and the removal of soil, which reduced the tilt of the tower and possibly extended its life for several more centuries.

Galileo Galilei himself, a native of Pisa, used the tilt of the tower in his experiments. The Inquisition condemned the scientist for heresy because he believed that the Earth revolves around the Sun, and not the Sun around the Earth. Only in 1992 did the Vatican officially admit that Galileo's theory was correct, it took them almost 500 years to realize that they were wrong, what could be more conservative than religion?

All these people are taking pictures with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, without their help it would definitely have fallen, we also contributed to its support. We observed a similar scene.

Well, the simple, unfamous houses of Pisa don’t look as well-groomed as the Field of Miracles. The paint was peeling, the shutters were lopsided. But this is Italy, even the paint falls off there in a highly artistic way.

On some houses, the plaster has fallen off in places, and all this is some hundred meters from Piazza dei Miracoli.

Probably people from Palestine are demanding freedom for their historical homeland.

Cavalieri Square

The central square of medieval Pisa is believed to have been built on the site of a Roman forum. This square already dates back to the period of Florentine rule. In front of the palace there is a monument to the Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo de' Medici I.