The city of the Leaning Tower is famous all over the world. It would be wrong to think that the tower alone attracts tens of thousands of tourists here every year. Of course, the times when the glory of Pisa, a formidable maritime power, thundered throughout Europe are long gone. Unique buildings remain from those times: churches, towers, city walls. Today Pisa is a small city with a population of about 100 thousand people, more than half of whom are students of the famous University of Pisa. So, in addition to visiting historical sights, there is something to entertain yourself in the city.
Tourists usually leave Pisa, as they say, “for dessert”. In fact, the city is not big; a day is enough to explore it. Just believe me, this day should be full. In this article I will tell you what you need in Pisa see,where to go And what to try.
In Pisa, despite its small size, there is plenty to choose from when it comes to accommodation. Of course, the most expensive hotels are located in the center: on the Arno embankment and in the Centro Storico. The price is determined by proximity to attractions and views from the room window. The closer your hotel is to the Leaning Tower, the higher the price. Often these hotels occupy ancient buildings that are not equipped with elevators, have no parking, and the size of the rooms is simply tiny.
I must say that area around the train station not as noisy as other Italian cities. There are many hotels, hostels, B&Bs. Although the views from the window are not the most picturesque, modern hotels will offer you spacious rooms with all amenities, there is also free parking, and some hotels offer shuttle buses to the airport. And all this at quite affordable prices. In addition, the walk to the same Piazza dei Miracoli from here is only 20-25 minutes.
Here is a selection of discounts from booking.com:
What and where to eat in Pisa
Although Pisa is a Tuscan city, and therefore its cuisine is Tuscan, it still has its own characteristics and nuances. Italian cuisine, as a rule, does not abound in soups. In Pisa you have the opportunity to try San Michele bean soup, frog soup and the famous Pisan tagliatelle pasta soup, olives and tomatoes.
There are many restaurants and cafes in the city. Restaurants located near Piazza dei Miracoli often do not differ in the quality of food and affordable prices. So follow the rule: eat where the locals eat.
Trattoria San Omobono
Excellent Tuscan cuisine, cozy design, lunch within 20-25 euros. Please note that the trattoria is popular, it is better to reserve seats.
The trattoria is open daily from 12:30 to 14:30 and from 19:30 to 22:00, on Sundays only from 12:30 to 14:30.
Address: Piazza Sant'Omobono, 6.
Pizzeria-trattoria La Buca
Pizza and Tuscan cuisine are in close proximity to the main attraction of Pisa, but there are no abundance of tourists here. Lunch - around 30 euros. It is located right behind Piazza dei Miracoli.
The pizzeria is open every day except Sunday from 12:15 to 14:30 and from 19:15 to 22:30.
Address: Via Galli Tassi, 4 −6b/ Via Santa Maria, 171.
Osteria In Domo
It is located very close to the Square of Miracles, but amazingly, tourists don’t know about it, but local residents really appreciate it. Excellent food, Tuscan cuisine, leisurely and friendly service. The average bill is about 30 euros. The portions are impressive.
Opening hours: daily from 11:30 to 23:00, on Monday from 9:00 to 15:30.
Address: via Santa Maria, 129.
What to see in Pisa
Pisa, unlike Florence, is not so rich in architectural monuments. There are far fewer of them here. But with what this city has, Pisa can outshine many of its competitors in the tourism business. I offer you a route through the main attractions of Pisa from the train station to the Square of Miracles.
I'll tell you what to see in Pisa besides the tower.
Map of Pisa
Fetching directions......
Church of San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno
No document indicates when this church was built. The first mentions of it date back to the 10th century. One of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Tuscany, it has been rebuilt several times. In the 12th century it was given a similarity to a cathedral. The Pisans called and call this church “Duomo Vecchio” - the Old Duomo. Construction of the existing façade of the church began in the 12th century and was completed in the 14th. Stored inside the church 13th century crucifix, frescoes by Buonamico Buffalmacco, "Madonna and Child" by Turino Vanni,Ancient Roman sarcophagus from the 2nd century. Behind the church is the 11th century chapel of St Agatha with amazing wall paintings. Due to restoration work, the church is closed to visitors, but it is worth visiting the building itself - it is very beautiful.
Church of Santa Maria della Spina
A small Gothic church on the banks of the Arno dates back to the 13th century.
This elegant architectural box was originally called Santa Maria Pontenovo because it was located near a bridge that was later destroyed. Since the 14th century, a relic has been kept in the church - thorn from Christ's crown of thorns. Therefore the church changed its name to Spina, which means "thorn". In the 19th century, due to the threat of a river flood, the church was dismantled and reassembled on a higher place. The building is richly decorated with statues of famous Pisan masters; marble of different colors is used to decorate the facades of the temple.
The inside of the church is surprisingly modestly decorated. Its main value today can be called the sculptural works of Andrea and Nino Pisano, created in the 14th century.
Church website on the Internet: ilturista.info.
The church is open to visitors:
- from Tuesday to Sunday - from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00,
- on Saturday and Sunday - from 10:00 to 19:00 (April-September), from 10:00 to 14:00 (October-March).
Entrance - 2 euros.
National Museum of San Matteo
On the Arno embankment stands the building of the former medieval monastery of San Matteo, which now houses an art museum. The collection contains a unique collection of paintings by Pisan and Tuscan masters of the 12th-17th centuries. It houses a priceless collection of archaeological artifacts and objects from the Middle Ages. Painted crosses, wooden sculptures, bas-reliefs, ceramics, medieval manuscripts - you will find all this in the halls of San Matteo.
The museum is open every day except Monday from 8:30 to 19:00, on weekends until 13:30.
The ticket costs 5 euros.
Museum website on the Internet: sbappsae-pi.beniculturali.it.
Botanical Garden
The Orto Botanical Garden in Pisa is one of the oldest in the world
The Pisa Botanical Garden was founded in 1544 and is considered the oldest in the world. However, the famous Botanical Garden of Padua disputes this fact. It itself was founded a year later, but the Pisa Garden changed its location several times.
In the Botanical Garden of Pisa today you will see more than 550 different plants. There is a Botanical Museum on the territory of the garden.
Schedule:
- winter - daily from 9:00 to 17:00,
- summer - daily from 8:30 to 20:00.
The box office stops selling tickets one hour before the garden closes.
There is a single ticket to the museum and the garden, it’s worth it 4 euros.
Piazza dei Cavalieri - Square of the Knights
One of the main squares of Pisa lies on the site of the ancient forum Portus Pisanus - the Pisa harbor.
Both in Roman times and during the era of the Pisan Republic, political life was in full swing here. The square was surrounded by churches and palaces; victories were celebrated and city problems were solved on the square. It was here that in 1406 the Florentine envoy declared that the independent Pisan Republic no longer existed. The city was annexed to the Florentine Republic.
In 1558, the Piazza was rebuilt by Giorgio Vasari in the Renaissance style.
The square is crowned by the Palazzo della Carovana, the main building of the University of Pisa. The facade of the palace is decorated with sgraffito - a special technique of wall paintings. The façade is also decorated with 6 busts of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.
On the other side of the square is the Palazzo dell'Orologio. The building, built in the 14th century, has undergone many reconstructions. In the 16th century, the palace received its current appearance; Vasari worked on its design. At the beginning of the 17th century, the walls of the palace were painted by artists Marucelli and Palladini. The clock was installed in 1696.
Several more palazzos and the Church of St. Stephen overlook Piazza dei Cavalieri. In the center of the square is a statue of Cosimo I de' Medici.
Piazza dei Miracoli - Square of Miracles
This square is a pearl from the collection of attractions of Pisa. This is where all the tourist people flock
The first of the buildings is the Duomo. Construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta began in 1064; the cathedral was consecrated in 1118, but work continued. The architecture of the cathedral includes several styles: Byzantine, Lombard, you can even find Islamic motifs, which symbolized the military strength and scope of trade of the Pisan Republic. As a result, the style in which the Duomo was built was called the Pisan Romanesque style.
The interior of the cathedral was seriously changed after a severe fire in 1595. Black and white marble walls, gilded ceiling, frescoed dome. Mosaic of the apse, in which he was involved Cimabue, survived the fire, as did the marble pulpit of the work Giovanni Pisano. These masterpieces must be seen. There is a chandelier in the cathedral called "Galileo's lamp". According to legend, observing the swinging of this chandelier, Galileo discovered the isochronism of pendulum oscillations.
Baptistery of San Giovanni built in 1152-1363. It is considered the largest baptistery in the world. The building began to be erected in the Romanesque style and was finished in the Gothic style.
The first tier is decorated with Romanesque arches with narrow windows, the second and third tiers are decorated with double arches and Gothic finials. In contrast to the strict first tier, the upper tiers are richly decorated with stone carvings. The decoration of the baptistery includes many sculptures and busts. The interior decoration of the baptistery is very strict and restrained, which makes a strong impression on visitors.
The baptistery contains a 13th-century font in which Galelio Galilei was baptized in 1564.
Inside you can see a beautifully crafted pulpit made Niccolo Pisano. It is this pulpit that is considered the first major work of the Italian Proto-Renaissance.
Behind the Duomo stands the same famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, aka the Bell Tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. The tower was founded in 1173, construction was completed in 1360.
The project initially had a mistake: a small tower foundation in soft clay-sandy soil.
“When the Leaning Tower of Pisa falls, there will be one less hope in this world...” - it is unknown which great author of this immortal phrase is
The tower began to tilt after the third tier was built. Throughout the history of the tower, Pisan builders repeatedly tried to stop its tilt. At times this was successful. One day they even seriously thought about leveling it completely, but stopped in time: it was the leaning tower that attracted a lot of guests to the city and brought profit. Today, the openwork structure made of white marble attracts crowds of tourists who not only climb its tiers, but also diligently “support” the tower, posing for the photo lens.
Behind the Duomo and the Baptistery is located Campo Santo (Holy Field)- monumental cemetery. It was built between 1278 and 1464.
"Holy" cemetery of Campo Santo
This cemetery is called holy because, according to legend, the cloister building was erected on land from Golgotha, which was brought by the Bishop of Pisa after the IV Crusade.
This building is the last of the buildings that were erected in Piazza dei Miracoli. You can see three chapels, ancient frescoes, Roman and Etruscan tombs and urns.
Opposite the Duomo, the baptistery and the tower is located Sinopia Museum.
Sinopia is a preparatory drawing for a fresco, made on the wall before applying the top layer of plaster, on which the fresco itself was painted.
The uniqueness of the sinopias is that they were applied by the master, and the students then painted the fresco along his contour. Such synopias are collected in the museum.
Working hours:
- Duomo - from 10:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 10:00 to 20:00 in summer;
- Baptistery - from 9:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer;
- Tower - from 9:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer;
- Camposanto - from 9:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer;
- Sinopia Museum - from 9:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer.
Ticket prices:
- Tower - 18 euros,
- Duomo - Free admission.
Entry to the rest of Piazza dei Miracoli is of your choice:
- one object - 5 euros,
- two objects - 7 euros,
- three objects - 8 euros.
The ticket office is located in the Sinopian Museum and in the building located behind the tower and Duomo.
Tickets can be purchased on the website: opapisa.it.
There are many more beautiful and amazing places in Pisa: museums, churches, medieval towers, remains of the harbor, city walls and gates, palaces. If you wish, you can stay here for another day to calmly explore everything, enjoy a stroll along the Arno embankment, enjoy the peace of a cozy Tuscan city, and in the evening merge with young people in a nightclub or bar.
Nightlife in Pisa
The main bars, nightclubs and discos in Pisa are located along the Arno River. It is always crowded and noisy here, the music never stops.
The Wall Lunch & American Bar.
It is perfect for a holiday with a large group. They have their own signature cocktails.
The bar is open from Wednesday to Sunday, opening hours: from 19:00 to 02:00.
Address: via Cardinale Pietro Maffi, 26.
The museum city of Europe, located in a bend of the Arno River, amazes tourists with the abundance of architectural attractions built in the Middle Ages. Majestic churches, cathedrals and other ancient buildings of the 12th-18th centuries organically coexist with modern buildings, and this gives the Italian city a unique flavor.
In this article we will share a description of all the attractions of Pisa with photos and recommendations for visiting.
About the city
In the Middle Ages the city was a major maritime hub, its huge port received ships from a variety of countries every day, and English, French, and Arabic were heard on the pier.
Modern Pisa no longer has its own access to the sea, although it is located half an hour from the Tyrrhenian coast. Today the city is famous throughout the world for its famous architectural structures, which are a medieval heritage.
What to see?
When the name of the city - Pisa - is mentioned in a conversation, a landmark that comes to mind is the most recognizable and famous landmark in Italy - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, Pisa has many beautiful churches and cathedrals, huge museums with interesting collections, palaces and simply interesting places where you can stroll.
For example, Square of Miracles (aka Cathedral Square), where the main attractions of Pisa are located - the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery, the Cathedral, Campo Sante.
University of Pisa and Botanical Garden represent a whole architectural complex. The educational institution received University status in the middle of the 13th century, and its work began a century earlier. Mostly humanitarian disciplines were studied here, and later a medical faculty was opened (it was at this faculty that Galileo Galilei was admitted at one time).
Among the patrons and patrons of the arts many influential people of that time were listed, for example, Duke Cosimo from Tuscany and the Medici family (the Botanical Garden appeared under their patronage). Among the famous students who studied at the University are the scientist Galileo Galilei (graduated from the Faculty of Medicine), physicist Carlo Rubia (Nobel laureate), opera tenor Andrea Bocelli (Faculty of Law).
The Botanical Garden presents the entire diversity of the world's flora - for example, a collection of cacti, camellias, hydrangeas and other “blooming” beauty. There is a fee to visit the garden - a ticket costs 3 €.
Architectural landmarks
About 90 sarcophagi dating back to antiquity and the Middle Ages have survived to this day, and sculptures and bas-reliefs inside the covered galleries depict scenes from the Old Testament.
Museums
Churches and cathedrals
In the same years when the construction of the Cathedral was underway, St. Mark's Cathedral was being built in Venice, so the architects tried to outdo each other in the solemnity and pretentiousness of the structures being erected.
-
The modern appearance of the Cathedral is due to numerous restorations; all sculptures on the façade and inside the cathedral premises have been replaced with copies, and the originals can be admired in the Cathedral Museum. Inside the Cathedral, in its main hall, you can see another miracle - lamp "Lamp of Galileo": A huge bronze chandelier hanging from a height of 50 meters sways with the slightest breath of wind, and it is truly a breathtaking sight.
You can visit the cathedral daily from 8 to 19 hours (in winter - until 17 hours), ticket price to the museum is 2 euros, and the cathedral itself can be viewed for free.
-
Church of Santa Maria della Spino is small and not as majestic as other church buildings, but for a long time it housed an ancient Christian relic - a thorn from the crown of thorns that was on the head of Jesus Christ (later this relic was transferred to the Church of Santa Chiara).
-
St. Catherine's Church, built in the 13th century, features a beautiful façade made of white and gray marble.
In the second half of the 17th century the church survived the fire, which caused some damage to the interior of the church. Fortunately, almost all the icons, numerous paintings and frescoes have survived, and today the works of the Middle Ages masters are available for inspection.
-
Baptistery in Pisa.
The round building in the Romanesque style began to be built at the beginning of the 12th century (1153) according to the design of the architect Diotisalvi, who was later joined by the sculptors Nicolo and Giovanni Pisano. Initially, the baptistery was conceived as a place for performing the sacrament of Baptism. If you look closely at the Baptistery, you will see you can notice a slight tilt towards the Pisa Cathedral.
Travel notes, day 2
Only very simple people who know nothing more about Pisa can go to Pisa just to look at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. These people often spend only a few hours in the city and leave without seeing or learning anything else. When I first came to Pisa, that's exactly what I did. I arrived, looked at the tower and left, immediately forgetting everything like a bad dream. I would never have returned here if it weren’t for Anton Borisovich Nosik:
“Another 26 million Chinese and Italians follow the same path every year. This is a well-trodden path - it’s like coming to Moscow, seeing Red Square and returning to the airport (and according to the behavior of the Kremlin’s GPS, both are located in Vnukovo). If you understand that Moscow is not just Red Square, then there should be the same awareness about Pisa. In addition to the tower, there is amazing architecture, museums, antiquity, history - there is all this in abundance, but all this is poorly documented, and that’s it. You need to figure it out on your own. There are no serious documents left about the Pisan Republic except the Divine Comedy. But traces of past times are very well preserved here. There are churches in the Proto-Renaissance style here in every gateway.In addition to history, Pisa also has such an interesting phenomenon as modern Italy. Pisa is a very good city to live in, it is the exact opposite of Venice. It is a very small, calm and cheap city, but at the same time absolutely cosmopolitan and university. In Venice, the majority of the population is people 80+. And in Pisa, the majority of residents are young people, students and teachers. Half of the largest buildings in the city are universities, so Pisa has a youthful and cheerful feel. At the same time, tourists do not spoil the internal market of Pisa at all, as happens in Rome and Venice. Because the bulk of normal business in Pisa is still focused on locals. This can be seen in the prices of coffee, food, clothing and everything else. The main buyer in Pisa is local, not tourists. For tourists there are only clay towers of Pisa on the refrigerator. And if a tourist wants to buy shorts, then no one will rip off a lot of money from him just because he is a tourist. If in Moscow these shorts cost 50 dollars, then in Pisa they are sold for 10 euros."
01. There are wonderful street cafes everywhere in Italy. It’s enough to put tables, chairs and umbrellas on the pedestrian street – and it’s already a blast. 
02. Another example of a good street cafe. In our country, just give it free rein, they are trying to build some kind of bulky structures, fence themselves off with fences, make some kind of extensions. This, of course, is no good, because a street cafe should not only bring profit to businessmen, but also be a decoration of the city, make it comfortable and pleasant for walking, and enliven it. Because people sitting on the street immediately transform the urban environment. 
03. There are many beggars in Italy. Beggars often sit with animals and press for pity. 
04. Press kiosk 
05. Squares and streets turn into markets in the morning. In general, during the day the same square can be a food market, then a clothing market, then tables of cafes and restaurants will appear there. At lunchtime the square will be completely empty, by the evening young people will be walking there, and at night some kind of disco will start. Every public space is constantly changing throughout the day. 
06. Food markets unfold in just a few minutes. 
07. Products are mostly local. Usually the merchant signs what goods were brought from where, especially if the products are from Italy and in this case Tuscany. 
08. Sicilian tomatoes - 128 rubles per kg, zucchini - 193 rubles. per kg. Fennel – 128 rub., asparagus – 385 rub., pumpkin – 160 rub. 
09. Peaches – 193 rub. per kg, cherry – 385 rub. 
10. Discounted mushrooms: 642 rubles per half kilo 
11. Different varieties of tomatoes from 225 to 450 rubles per kg. 
12.
13. Beans – 385 rub. per kg, zucchini for 258 rub. Here we eat zucchini like zucchini, only the lower part, but in Italy they also eat the flowers. They are used to make salads, pizzas, and in general these flowers are a fairly important component of national cuisine. 
14. Salesman at the butcher shop 
15. Wherever you go in Italy, it is, of course, fantastically delicious. And not only pastas and pizzas, which we are already accustomed to here, but anything in general: salads, meat and seafood - everything is prepared from the freshest local products. You can safely go into any establishment and die of pleasure. 
16. Truffle shop. It's not the season now, so we only have canned truffles. 
17. Cigarette vending machine. You can only buy them if you have a local ID. That is, tobacco is only for Italians) They insert their IDs, the machine checks the buyer’s age and only then issues the goods. But a tourist can always ask a local to buy him cigarettes, and he will definitely help. 
18. In honor of the next anniversary of the march of Mussolini’s supporters on Rome, the local Pisan authorities decided to recall that Mussolini also persecuted Jews. In fact, Jews remember exactly the opposite - that under Mussolini they lived here absolutely calmly, but as soon as he was overthrown in 1943, the Holocaust immediately began. But the Pisan authorities have a different version of events: in 1938, Mussolini also passed a discriminatory law against Jews. And in memory of this event, they made a city route through Jewish places. 
19. Anton Borisovich Nosik says that Pisa is similar to St. Petersburg. 
20. Street art 
21. Streets of Pisa 
22. Walking around Pisa is a pleasure. A large old town that is well preserved. Yes, there are no sidewalks or any good public spaces, but the very charm of the narrow streets of the old city is something that is missing in Russia. 
23. We do not have medieval cities in the form in which they were preserved in Europe. In Russia, cities were not built from stone, and from those times we have, at best, only Kremlins, and, of course, you will not find residential buildings. 
24. It’s difficult for even two people to pass each other on these streets. 
25. But all these houses are residential, everything is real. 
26. There is a famous joke about the origin of the Russian word “stibrili” - about how Julius Caesar crossed the Tiber and was left without a horse. And the student who hears this from the professor asks: did something happen to Julius Caesar near Pisa? So, in the photo there is a monument to the king and unifier of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. In all other cities of Italy and in all the paintings you see Victor Emmanuel on horseback. Actually, the only reason they recognize it is that it is an equestrian statue. But in Pisa he was left without a horse... 
27. Toilet 
28. 
29. Even in Pisa there are traffic jams. But there are no underground passages. 
30. Only scooters can enter some streets. 
31.
32. Entry to local buses is only through the front door, as in Moscow. This is bad, it shouldn't happen. 
33.
34. This is one of the most famous monuments of Tuscan Gothic - the chapel of Santa Maria della Spina. It is built around a relic - a thorn from the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ. 
35. But it doesn’t matter, it’s just one of the greatest monuments of the Gothic style that emerged a thousand years ago. It is very coolly done in terms of sculpture, architecture, engineering and design. 
36.
37.
38.
39. There are ancient artifacts everywhere. 
40. Here you can see the remains of the Medici renovation. The same thing often happened here in the 90s and 2000s, when historical buildings were deformed to suit modern needs. In Italy this is also the case, but it was done a long time ago. 
41. These traces are like scars on the body of the city. It can be seen that once beautiful buildings were simplified, cut down and adapted to the needs of new generations. 
42. Now, of course, this is unthinkable, but earlier people had a simpler attitude towards history. You can imagine how many centuries the thinking of some Russian building owners is behind the thinking of Europeans. 
43. This is a monument to Ferdinand I, who at the age of 14 received the rank of bishop. He was the fifth son in the family, and it was clear that the fifth son would never make a career as a duke. Therefore, he had to serve as a bishop. But in general, he never put on the cassock, because after the deaths of his brothers he was nevertheless appointed Grand Duke of Tuscany. And it turned out that he was a normal guy: he freed prisoners, allowed different religions to be practiced, allowed books to be printed in different languages, and opened the port of Livorno. The city was very grateful to him, so he erected this statue in his honor during his lifetime. Ferdinand will rule for another 14 years, and a monument to him has already been erected. Women and children kneel in front of him - this symbolizes that he freed many prisoners accused of fighting against the Medici. 
44. Garbage cans 
45. Tanks are opened with a special magnetic card that residents have. 
46. Underground garbage cans can also be opened only with a card. There is a pedestrian path around it so that, God forbid, someone doesn’t park. 
47. Bakunin lived in Italy for some time - although not in Pisa - and even tried to organize an uprising here. Many anarchists, including European ones, are still fans of Bakunin. Apparently they left the graffiti. 
48. Scooter parking 
49. Here Muslim Indians sell halal meat. 
50. There are many Africans in the city who are trying to sell souvenirs. 
51. In general, there are quite a lot of migrants in Pisa, a lot of Arabs. They mostly beg, sell all sorts of junk, and stand on all the streets, especially where there are tourists. 
52. A special postal machine that is allowed to deliver correspondence along pedestrian streets. 
53.
54.
55. There are a lot of cyclists in the city. 
56. You can get by without a car here, but there are still cars. 
57. This is one of the elements of Piazza dei Cavalieri (Square of the Knights). The Church of the Knightly Order of St. Stephen, which was personally designed by the famous art historian Giorgio Vasari. This is part of the general Cavalieri complex, a very beautiful church. This is how the Medici asserted their cultural presence. 
58. Church of San Rocco, it was founded in the 11th century, and the inside was completed already in Baroque times, in the 17th century. But basically all these ceilings and layout are from the 11th century. 
59. There is increased security around the main attractions. 
60. Sculpture "Fallen Angel" 
61. And here is the tower. At the top you can see the flag of Pisa. 
62. Of course, everyone endlessly photographs her. 
63. Pisa Cathedral in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
64. Box with the relics of various saints. If they were brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, this would be enough for Moscow to stand in an endless queue. But here they don’t cause any excitement. 
65. Baptistery of St. John. That is, the place where people are baptized. It is even older than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 
66.
67. They don’t know how to lay asphalt here. They laid new asphalt and made markings, but look at the edges. This, of course, is nonsense, you can’t do that. 
68. Everything is already falling apart. 
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, also known as the Leaning Tower, is a huge mistake by the builders, which, contrary to logic, became one of the symbols of Italy and became famous throughout the world. It was built in two stages, over almost two centuries. Already during the construction process, it became clear that the tower was acquiring an unnatural slope, but, nevertheless, by 1360 it was completely completed. Since then, to this day, work has been constantly underway to strengthen the tower. But all efforts remain in vain - the tower continues to deviate from the vertical at a speed of 1.2 mm per year.
One day the Leaning Tower of Pisa will fall, but until then tourists will make pilgrimages to this Wonder of the World, whose floors are bordered by graceful decorative arcades, and a ringing bell can be heard from the top.
Pisa Cathedral
Construction of the Pisa Cathedral began in 1063, and the main concept of the construction was
an organic combination of elements of a wide variety of architectural styles, including even Islamic ones. Such eclecticism was supposed to emphasize the scope of Pisan trade, which at that time was experiencing a significant rise.
The architect Busqueto di Giovanni Giudice took up the matter, who sought to surpass his competitors from Venice, who were building St. Mark's Cathedral.
The year of completion of construction is considered to be 1118, when the Cathedral was consecrated by Pope Gelasius II.
The appearance of the cathedral has undergone a number of changes over time due to the need for restoration of the structure. The interior of the Pisa Cathedral amazes the imagination not only with its volume, but also with the beauty of its decorations. The decoration is dominated by black and white marble, and the ceiling is decorated with frescoes from the Middle Ages. Despite the fact that most tourists come here thanks to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, their attention soon turns to the unique beauty of the cathedral.
What attractions of Pisa did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Church of Santa Maria della Spina
The Church of Santa Maria della Spina is one of the main attractions of Pisa. The Gothic church, erected in the Middle Ages on the banks of the Arno River, has become a monument of European Gothic, demonstrating the most striking signs of this architectural style.
The Church of Santa Maria della Spina was built on the sandy bank of the river in 1230.
The facade of the building is made of multi-colored marble, and the niches are decorated with sculptural images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and angels. The right side of the temple is literally carved with floral patterns, numerous niches and turrets. The statues for the temple were made by several generations of Pisan masters, including the forerunners of the Italian Renaissance Giovanni di Balduccio and Nicolo Pisano - perhaps the most prominent representative of Pisan art.
The name of the church comes from the word “spina”, translated meaning “thorn”. Since the 14th century, this small church has housed one of the main shrines of Italy - the thorn from the crown of thorns of Christ.
The monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi was erected in Pisa in a small square adjacent to the Arno River embankment.
Bronze Garibaldi, cast at the end of the 19th century according to the design of the Pisa sculptor Ettore Ferrari, looks thoughtfully at the city and its inhabitants.
The monument was erected on the tenth anniversary of the death of the national hero of Italy, in 1892. At this time, monuments dedicated to the leader of the popular resistance were erected in various cities of Italy.
A small bronze monument was erected in Pisa. The sculptural image of the hero is laconic - Garibaldi, dressed in a simple militia costume, peers into the distance.
The figure of Giuseppe Garibaldi is mounted on a stone pedestal, decorated with bas-reliefs of soldiers and laurel wreaths. The inscription on the pedestal is terse: “Pisa - Garibaldi.”
The monument completes the architectural ensemble of the square, named after Garibaldi, and is a successful example of combining 19th-century sculpture and medieval urban architecture.
Pisa's Arno Promenade
Pisa's Arno Promenade is the heart of the ancient city.
The Arno River, notorious for its turbulent nature and having repeatedly flooded both Pisa and neighboring Florence, was tamed and encased in a sandstone and red brick embankment. Their combination creates an amazing medieval atmosphere, so typical of Pisa.
Along the river, which was the center of life of the city, which gained its wealth through maritime trade, numerous palaces and temples were built in the Middle Ages. Palazzo Gambacorti, located on the northern bank of the Arno, has today become the center of the administrative life of the city - the prefecture is located here. Nearby are the buildings of the University of Pisa and its library.
Pisa (Italy) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Pisa with descriptions, guides and maps.
City of Pisa (Italy)
In 1564, the great Galileo was born here, who taught at the local university, which is one of the oldest educational institutions in the world. Until the 18th century, Pisa was a provincial Tuscan city without much political influence. The impetus for further growth and development was the drainage of nearby swamps, the elimination of foci of malaria and the development of light industry. In 1944, during the fighting, the areas south of the Arno River were heavily damaged.
How to get there
Galileo Galilei International Airport is located near Pisa and is served by approximately 18 airlines. It is easy and simple to get to the city by train/bus from Florence, Rome, Livorno, Genoa.
Attractions
The most important attractions of Pisa (some of them are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
Campo dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is an area north of central Pisa where the city's most famous attractions are concentrated.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the famous leaning tower, the main symbol of Pisa. It was conceived as a cathedral bell tower. It was built over almost two centuries from the 12th century. The height of the tower is more than 50 meters, and the deviation from the axis is at least 4% (this value was changed in 2001 during work to prevent the tower from falling, when the deviation reached 5.5%). The slope of this structure appeared during construction. After this, its construction was stopped. Almost 100 years later, construction was resumed again, but the “fall” could not be corrected. An open bell tower was added to the white marble tower in 1350-72 by Tommaso Pisano. Entrance to the observation deck is paid.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a grand cathedral in the Romanesque style, made of white marble. Construction began in the 11th century after the victory over the Saracens. The decorated arcades of the magnificent facade continue around the side walls, and its transepts end in small apses that extend well beyond the aisles. The cathedral is topped with a dome. The main attraction of the interior is the pulpit of Giovanni Pisano.
The baptistery is located to the west of the cathedral. The construction of this structure lasted for two centuries from 1153. That is why the baptistery combines the features of Romanesque and Gothic styles. This is a beautiful marble building topped with a dome. The main treasure of the interior is the magnificent pulpit by Pisano and the amazing acoustics.
Campo Santo (Sacred Field) is a monastery and ancient cemetery formed in the 13th century after Archbishop Ubaldo dei Lanfranchi brought back the soil of Golgotha from the Fourth Crusade. The tombs of noble inhabitants of Pisa and Roman sarcophagi are located here. The walls were decorated with frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, which were significantly damaged in 1944.
Santa Maria della Spina is a church on the left bank of the Arno River, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Pisa. It was built of marble in the Gothic style in 1871.
The Palazzo dei Cavalieri or the Palace of the Elders is a historical building on the square of the same name. The building was built in the 16th century according to the design of Giorgio Vasari. The façade is decorated with busts of six Medici princes. In front of the building is a statue of Cosimo I by Piero Francavilla. On the north side of Piazza dei Cavalieri is the Palazzo dell'Orológio, built in 1607 for the Order of St. Stephen and including the remains of two early medieval tower houses.
San Piero a Grado is a 10th-century Romanesque basilica located near the old port. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes, and excavations confirm the presence of an earlier Christian church and even ancient Roman buildings.
The Blue Palace is a historical building that houses art collections from the 16th to the 20th centuries.
Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri - was designed by Vasari in the 16th century. This is a church with a beautiful marble facade and rarities of the Order of St. Stephen.
What else to see in Pisa:
- Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza XX Settembre are two opposite squares. From Piazza Garibaldi begins Borgo Stretto, an old street with many shops that, together with Corso Italia, starting on the opposite side of Piazza XX Settembre, create a pedestrian area (interrupted only by a bridge) that is considered the center of the city.
- Santo Sepolcro is a Romanesque octagonal church with the conical spire of Diotalvi.
- The Archbishops' Palace is an important historical building that contains works of art.
- San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno is one of the oldest churches in Pisa with a Romanesque façade, completed by Pisano.
- The Church of San Nicola is an ancient church from the 11th century, built by the Augustinians.
