Pisa
Is Pisa just a tower? Discover it with the perfect day tour in Tuscany!
When you plan a trip to Tuscany, going to Pisa and taking the famous picture at the leaning tower, which has now became a symbol of Italy as well, is an absolute must-do.
But is it worth going to Pisa just for one tower?? Well… by reading this article you’ll see that Pisa can offer you much more!!
The famous leaning tower is located on a square called Piazza dei Miracoli, the Square of Miracles or the Field of Miracles (the people of Pisa call it just “the field”). This nickname was given by an Italian poet, Gabriele d’Annunzio, when he visited the city and the square for the first time as way to underline the beauty and the harmony of the place.
It was declared a UNESCO site in 1987. The Square of Miracles is also the symbol of the economic power of Pisa. The city was founded by Romans and thanks to its proximity to
the sea, it sprang up as one of the most important Maritime Republics. In the Middle Ages, the main ports of Italy were Venice, Genoa, Amalfi and Pisa.
The merchants of Pisa dominated the Mediterranean Sea and they won important battles.
The spoils of war were pretty solid: among the centuries, they were able to bring back power, treasures and artistic influences!


The Square of Miracles

The merchants of Pisa dominated the Mediterranean Sea and they won important battles.
The spoils of war were pretty solid: among the centuries, they were able to bring back power, treasures and artistic influences!
The Square of Miracles is currently the religious center of Pisa. Inside the beautiful walled square, you can see the cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the baptistery and the Camposanto, the monumental cemetery. The Leaning Tower is, actually, the bell
tower of the cathedral of Pisa.
All the buildings were built in the Middle Ages between the XI and XIV century. It’s worth going inside all these beautiful monuments, which made history in terms of the style of the Italian Middle Ages.
But beyond the tower, there’s an entire city to discover—because the Leaning Tower Square is not the center of Pisa!
Just 5 minutes away by foot from the Square of Miracles, there is the famous Piazza dei Cavalieri.
It’s the second most important square of Pisa, dominated by the elegant Corovana Palace, designed by Vasari (the architect of the Uffizi gallery in Florence) and the church of Santo Stefano.
Here you can find the historical headquarters of the Univeristy of Pisa, called La Normale, one of the most important universities in Italy.
But you don’t have to stop here!! Keep going through the little medieval streets of Pisa until you reach the Arno River, the same river as Florence. The Lungarni here (the boulevard along the river) is really elegant and charming, especially at sunset, and full of beautiful palazzos like the famous Palazzo Blu, currently home to beautiful art exhibits.
Don’t miss the little church of Santa Maria della Spina, Saint Mary of the Thorn (called this name because of the relic of the thorn of Jesus Christ’s crown)… It’s a small church and a fantastic example of Italian Gothic style that overlooks the river!!
More than a tower…
If you like museums, there is the famous San Matteo Museum, with masterpieces of art from the Middle Ages.
But Pisa is also modernity. Really close to Corso Italia, one of the main streets of the center of Pisa, the famous artist Keith Haring made the biggest European murals ever done in 1989!! And if you like shopping, Pisa will not let you down!! Borgo Stretto, a characteristic medieval street with typical arches, and Corso Italia offer you many beautiful shops and places where you can eat the famous and tasty Cecina (what’s the cecina dish? Wait for our next article in the blog!!) with a nice glass of Chianti wine (yes there’s a type of Chianti produced here too!) from the Colli Pisani!
So Pisa has so much to see that it’s worth going behind the tower, too!
And if you are wondering why the tower is leaning… book a tour with us to discover even more!
