The 9 Best Things to Do in Pisa for Smart Travelers

Cutting through Italy's tourist clutter, I've hammered out a punchy list of the 9 coolest things to do in Pisa, a goldmine for the smart wanderer. It's a roadmap that peels back Pisa's layers, dropping you square into the heart of its real, unvarnished charm.

In my opinion, Pisa, Italy, is definitely way more than just a postcard image of that famous leaning tower. The poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who had the ability to turn words into gold, described Piazza del Duomo's beauty as "miraculous".

The triptych of the Cathedral, the Leaning Tower, and the Baptistery is simple enough to get lost in—almost forgiveable—but that's just the beginning. So relax, sit back, and allow me to transport you from the postcard to the heart of Pisa and its 9 must see places.

1) Go to Borgo Stretto - Pisa's "Narrow Village"

For Pisans, Borgo Stretto is just the "Borgo"; anybody really interested in learning more about the city's past should stop there. It is one of the city's oldest districts, having been inhabited mostly by merchants who centered their business operations here since the fourteenth century.

It's a location that has endured for generations, to the point that there are still stores, pubs, eateries, and other establishments. Be sure to check out the Church of San Michele in Borgo, a significant piece of ecclesiastical heritage; the Piazza delle Vettovaglie, home of the fruit and vegetable market; and the Casino dei Nobili, an eighteenth-century structure constructed for the amusement of the aristocracy.

2) Visit Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

A maritime republic that stretched far more into the Mediterranean than the Apennine hinterland, Pisa is known for its cosmopolitanism. The best example of the Pisan Romanesque architectural style, which first appeared in the city around the eleventh century, is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Consequently, there is a unique blending of styles, ranging from the return of Greco-Roman classicism to the Arab-Norman influence discernible from the two-tone façade. Oddly enough, work on the Basilica of San Marco in Venice started in 1064, the same year that the Cathedral of Pisa was built. Therefore, the concept of a race between the two republics to create the religious structure most suited to capture the grandeur attained was born.

3) Go to Palazzo Reale (Pisa's "Royal Palace")

The Royal Palace of Pisa was built between 1583 and 1587 on behalf of Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici by Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti on the Lungarno Pacinotti. Some pre-existing structures were used in its construction, notably the so-called "della Vergadoro" tower, which belonged to the powerful Gaetani family. The seat of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany remained until the nineteenth century.

After Italy's unification, the Savoys also stayed there on occasion, earning the palace's "Royal" moniker, which it still bears. Since 1989, Palazzo Reale has served as the headquarters of the Pisa and Livorno Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape, as well as housing the treasures of the National Museum of the same name. It holds collections that are largely made up of pieces of art from successive dynasties.

A unique historical-artistic and cultural journey that traces the continuity and rupture in the Pisan ruling classes' proclivity for beauty, from the noble families of the Middle Ages to the urban upper middle class of the twentieth century. The "Miracle of the Two Hanged Men" by a very young Raphael, part of a Triptych dedicated to San Nicola da Tolentino, is noteworthy.

4) Experience Torre Pendente (Pisa's Ultra-Famous Leaning Tower)

The Leaning Tower's traditional ranking as the most popular attraction in Pisa is, at most, influenced by the fact that, when construction first started in 1173, it was intended to be the bell tower for the neighboring Cathedral.

We are really discussing a monument whose renown crosses international boundaries to such an extent that it has been put up as one of the contemporary world's seven wonders. It goes without saying that the building's inclination is a major part of its beauty, yet even with the 2002 renovations, the building's stats remain unaffected. These days, it's unavoidable to take a picture against the Tower of Pisa; in fact, footage featuring the most extravagant stances is often shared online.

5) Travel to Piazza dei Cavalieri

The Piazza dei Cavalieri is where the famed Università Normale di Pisa is housed in the striking palace of the same name. It must be acknowledged, though, that the area's historical appeal extends beyond the esteemed university.

Piazza dei Cavalieri, for example—though opinions on this matter differ—represents the ancient Roman forum of Pisa; moreover, it unquestionably symbolizes the political hub of medieval Pisa.

Many remnants of the medieval era still exist. These include the façade of the Palazzo dei Cavalieri, also known as "della Carovana," which was once the seat of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano. We also need to consider the Church of Santo Stefano, which was designed by Vasari on Cosimo de' Medici, and the Palazzo dell'Orologio, which includes the Torre dei Gualandi.

In this building, Count Ugolino della Gherardesca was imprisoned and allowed to perish alongside his children, the vicissitudes of which Dante describes in cantos XXXII and XXXIII of the Divine Comedy.

6) Get to the Church of Santa Maria della Spina

Pisa has a rich history of religious tradition. The chapel of Santa Maria della Spina is well worth seeing, even if you are unable to see everything (unless you are planning a lengthy stay). Built on the riverbank by the Gualandi family on their orders, the modest deconsecrated church was originally built in 1230.

But the term itself comes from 1333 and alludes to the thorn (spina) relic from Christ's crown that is housed within the structure. All agree that Santa Maria della Spina is a gem of Pisan Gothic architecture.

The sculpture, known as Madonna della Rosa, was made by Andrea and Nino Pisano in the fourteenth century, and it stands out against the rather bare interior, which contrasts with the exterior's elaborate spiers, pinnacles, and tabernacles.

It must be acknowledged that this church has had many vicissitudes throughout the ages, partly because of issues with infiltration because of its close proximity to the Arno. That is why the structure was actually demolished and rebuilt at a higher position relative to the river during the unification of Italy, namely in 1871.

7) Go over to the Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista

The Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista completes the triptych of Piazza dei Miracoli. The work was built in 1152, but as is typical in these circumstances, it was sustained for centuries with an inevitable succession of styles. The style is Gothic-Romanesque, and its interpreter was one Diotisalvi, a 12th-century architect.

Along with Diotisalvi magister (the artist's signature), we must recall Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, both well acclaimed sculptors and builders in the Tuscan Middle Ages. However, in the nineteenth century, the architect Alessandro Gherardesca significantly altered the façade, removing many of the medieval trappings.

Notable is the dome with red tiles, which contrasts with the general appearance of the structure while attracting the visitor's attention. Except for the baptismal font and the pulpit, the interior is virtually barren of adornment.

8) Stroll Along the Lungarni of Pisa

Like Florence, Pisa also has its Arno rivers and, just like the Tuscan capital, also for the city of the Leaning Tower the road network all around the Arno represents an important tourist attraction . Or rather, it has historically represented - and still represents - a meeting place for the Pisans and then, thanks to tourism development, it has become one of the unmissable stops for the many visitors who reach the city every day.

There are many names: Lungarno Pacinotti , Lungarno Simonelli , Lungarno Galilei , Lungarno Gambacorti , Lungarno Sidney Sonnino etc .; the most famous, however, is the Lungarno Mediceo which goes from the Ponte della Fortezza to the Ponte di Mezzo and is the epicenter of the city's nightlife .

9) Make a Pilgrimage to the Camposanto Monumentale (Pisa's "Monumental Cemetery")

The Monumental Cemetery concludes the journey to Piazza dei Miracoli. It should be noted that many of the thousands of visitors that go to Piazza dei Miracoli every day miss this location, which instead conveys a lot about Pisa and the Pisans.

Archbishop Federico Visconti had it erected in 1277 to gather the graves that had previously been strewn about the Cathedral. Contrary to its synonymy with "cemetery," the title "Camposanto" would relate to the Pisans' decision to relocate the "holy" territory acquired from Palestine during the Second Crusade to this location.

An Allied bombardment in July 1944 caused the Monumental Cemetery's lead roof to collapse and burn, inflicting catastrophic damage to the frescoes inside the edifice. Many have been irretrievably lost; others, on the other hand, have been the subject of lengthy and sophisticated restoration effort, allowing for partial recovery. These frescoes are now kept in the Sinopie Museum, which, along with the sarcophagi from the Hellenistic and early Christian ages scattered throughout the Camposanto, is the main attraction of this spiritually rich location, an ideal refuge from the crowds of tourists and curious visitors in the nearby Piazza dei Miracoli.

Thirsty for the real deal on roaming Italy?

Hope you got a kick out of Pisa; if that jazzed you up, wait till you check out our other Italian capers. Buon Viaggio, and strap in for more!

Where to Stay in Monticchiello, Italy- Tuscany's Hidden Gem

11 Best Hotels in Martina Franca

17 BEST Things to Do in Lecce-Ultimate Travel Guide (2024)

19 Best Things to do in Ostuni, Puglia 2024 (Travel Guide)

Ultimate Guide to the Best Things to Do in Monopoli, Italy

41 Things to Do in Genoa Italy

Best Things To Do in Portofino (Ultimate Travel Guide)

11 Things to Do in Santa Margherita Ligure

San Fruttuoso Travel Guide (All you NEED to Know)

Bari, Italy 2024: 9 Reasons to Visit Bari