If you’re intending to travel around Italy, Pisa should certainly be one of your stops. The city is home to some great cultural attractions that you won’t want to miss, especially if you’re keen on exploring some of the nation’s top monuments.
Historically a maritime rival with the likes of Venice and Genova, Pisa, Italy gets its current fame from a failed, but phenomenally beautiful architectural project.
The leaning tower of Pisa is certainly the attraction that draws most foreigners to this Italian city, but there is definitely more here to explore.
Getting to Pisa
You can get to Pisa by car, train, bus and airplane.
Should Pisa just be one part of your tour of Italy, consider hiring a car when you arrive. This will give you much more freedom in terms of your travel plans and allow you to discover some of Italy’s stunning countryside as well as its biggest cities.
Getting to Pisa by car is also good idea as it allows you to venture off to other nearby sites and activities, such as shopping for exquisite marble souvenirs in nearby Carrera, wine tasting in Bolzano or heading off for a romantic weekend in fair Verona.
That being said, the other methods of getting to Pisa certainly have their value. The train is particularly convenient if you’re traveling to and from Venice, since it’s necessary to visit that particular city on foot.
Top Places to Visit in Pisa
Pisa has more to offer than its famous leaning tower. Medieval architecture, stunning grounds and centuries of history await the exploration of vacationers visiting Pisa, Italy.
The following are some of the cultural highlights you shouldn’t miss when you travel here.
Piazza dei Miracoli
The Piazza dei Miracoli is where you’ll find Pisa’s most famous sights, so it’s a great place to start your tour of the city. As well as the world-renowned leaning tower, this is where you can see the baptistery, monumental cemetery, Museum of Sinopie, cathedral and its museum.
You could easily spend an entire day in this part of Pisa, with the Museum of Sinopie particularly interesting if you’re an art fan or want to learn more about Pisa’s early history, as this establishment houses the original drawings and outlines of some of the murals found in the monumental cemetery.
The most cost-effective way to discover this part of Pisa is to buy a combined visitor ticket for all the attractions, although you can just pay to get into the buildings that interest you if you’d prefer.
National Museum of San Matteo
The National Museum of San Matteo is located in a monastery near the Arno River and houses a vast collection of works by Pisan and Tuscan artists from the 12th to 17th centuries, although it is particularly well known for its medieval art.
Some of the earliest pieces on show are a selection of croci dipinte (or painted crosses) that have been taken from some of Pisa’s oldest churches and were decorated by artists such as San Martino and Giunta Pisano. In addition to the art, there are archaeological exhibits and displays of ceramic artefacts.
The Lugarnos
Pisa’s Lugarnos are the streets that run alongside the Arno River, with their ornate architecture giving this part of the city a very distinctive appearance and adding to its charming atmosphere. This is where the wealthy families used to live and the rows of impressive homes run all the way to the Marina di Pisa.
The Lugarno Mediceo is one of the best places to begin, as a walk along here will show you the Medici Palace that used to be the residence of the Grand Duke and is now the seat of the prefecture. Other historical buildings that line the Lugarnos include the Lanfreducci Palace, the Agnostini Palace and the church of Madonna dei Galletti.
National Museum of the Palazzo Reale
My final pick of the top cultural sites in Pisa is the National Museum of the Palazzo Reale, which is housed in the palace of the same name. This is a wonderful place to come if you’re keen to learn a bit more about Pisa’s former ruling families (most notably Medici, Lorena and Savoia) who used to live here. Among the items on show in the palace are tapestries, paintings, furniture and armour dating from between the 15th and 19th centuries.
Pisa Travel Tips
Without further ado, here are my top tips for planning a perfect day in Pisa.
Schedule ample time at Piazza del Duomo
Otherwise known as Campo dei Miracoli, Piazza del Duomo is arguably one of the most beautiful public areas in the world. It’s nothing short of exquisite, and you definitely don’t want to shortchange yourself by not spending enough time here.
It’s home to three of the most beautiful – and famous – Romanesque structures many people will ever have the opportunity to see. That’s right. The Piazza del Duomo is home to the famous leaning tower of Pisa, an intricately-designed baptistry and of course the Pisa cathedral.
Additionally, there are a couple of museums on and near the grounds of the Campo dei Miracoli with interesting artefacts and pieces of artwork that are worth your time to see. You’ll also find restaurants, souvenir shops and several chances for historic carriage rides just across the street.
The perfect picture of the leaning tower of Pisa, AKA the Torre di Pisa, is elusive but not impossible
In addition to the challenge of waiting until there’s a break in the tourist foot traffic, you can expect to spend some time circling the famous Torre di Pisa to determine the best angle from which to take your best shot. This is going to be a personal decision for each and every photographer.
The leaning tower of Pisa is certainly a picturesque building in its own right, but some will prefer to photograph the building by itself while others prefer including the smaller cherub statue in front, or getting a photograph of the leaning tower along with the baptistry and the Pisa cathedral.
There are many photogenic angles however, so those who put in the time and exercise a bit of patience can expect to be rewarded.
Pack some picnic supplies to fully enjoy the grounds of the Campo dei Miracoli
Remember, the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa comes complete with a large lush lawn that’s perfect for reading, sketching and yes, enjoying the perfect travel picnic.
Of course there are a number of decent restaurants in the city of Pisa for vacationers to enjoy. If you only have a day in the city however, this is the best place to enjoy a meal. Particularly if the weather is cooperating.
Allow some time to explore the older, medieval section of Pisa proper
Sure, the Piazza del Duomo gets all of the tourist air time, but Pisa has other gems to offer the inquisitive traveler and the old city center is one of them.
Those who arrive by train at Stazione Pisa Centrale will find themselves on the edge of this part of town, so including its exploration on the way to Campo dei Miracoli only makes good scheduling sense.