Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Best attractions in Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, with its distinctive tilt, is one of the world's most famous landmarks. Construction began in 1173, but by the time the third floor was added in 1185, the tower had already started to lean due to the soft, sandy ground. Originally intended as a freestanding bell tower for the Cathedral of Pisa, its completion was delayed by construction pauses and adjustments, finally finishing in 1372. Today, the tower tilts at about four degrees and draws millions of visitors each year who brave its 294 steps.
The Cathedral of Pisa, the oldest structure on the Piazza dei Miracoli, was begun in 1064 outside the city's walls to showcase Pisa's confidence against potential attacks. The construction was funded by war booty, notably from a victorious raid on the Saracens in Palermo. This cathedral, along with St. Mark's Basilica, is one of the first monumental buildings of medieval Italy, making it particularly significant in art history. It was built either before or around the same time as the Venetian basilica, during a period when both powerful maritime republics were vying to assert their cultural dominance. The origins of the Persian and Byzantine influences in its design remain unclear.
The Square of Miracles, or Piazza del Duomo, ranks among the world's most stunning plazas. Its centerpiece, the famous Leaning Tower, stands boldly beside the majestic Cathedral with its gleaming white marble facade.
The Baptistery rises like a marble crown on the Piazza dei Miracoli. Begun in 1153 under the direction of Diotisalvi, this remarkable structure combines Romanesque austerity with Gothic elegance. Standing 55 meters tall and over 100 meters in diameter, it is the largest baptistery in the world. Its two distinct dome halves create a stunning play of colors at sunrise and sunset.
Inside, the atmosphere is simple, almost ascetic, drawing the eye to the marble pulpit by Nicola Pisano, a 1260 masterpiece that marks the dawn of the Renaissance. Every half hour, the Baptistery’s acoustic marvel comes to life: its double dome, with an inner pyramid and outer hemisphere, transforms even whispers into something akin to heavenly music.
Also noteworthy is the beautiful octagonal baptismal font, crafted in 1246. Incidentally, construction wasn’t completed until 200 years later, in 1363.
On the edge of the famous Cathedral Square lies the Campo Santo, or Holy Field. This cemetery was partially built with soil from Golgotha, a sacred place believed to cause bodies buried there to decay within 24 hours. Crusaders brought this holy soil back to Italy.
On the way to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, this photogenic square is worth a detour. Once the city's political and administrative heart, it’s now a showcase of Renaissance architecture. Impressive buildings like the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri and the Palazzo della Carovana, former seat of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano, surround the square. The Palazzo's facade, adorned with intricate sgraffito decorations and busts of Roman Grand Masters, whispers stories of the past.
The Palazzo Blu, a former 14th-century noble palace, houses a small art museum. Inside, you'll find a permanent exhibition of Tuscan paintings and antique furniture, along with temporary art exhibitions—including a few pieces by Galileo Galilei. It's an ideal retreat for art lovers looking to escape the crowds and summer heat.
Santa Maria della Spina, a gem of Pisan Gothic architecture, was built in 1230 from white marble. Despite its small size, it impresses with an intricate façade adorned with statues and ornate pinnacles. The church was named "Spina" because it originally housed a thorn from Christ’s Crown of Thorns.
The "Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli Natural Park" is a protected natural area established by LR Toscana n. 61 on December 13, 1979.
"San Piero a Grado" is a church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, in the eponymous "frazione" west of the city center. The church is located where once was a now disappeared port of the Pisan Republic, where, according to the legend, St. Peter landed in Italy from Antiochia in 44 AD.
The "Orto botanico di Pisa", also known as the "Orto Botanico dell'Università di Pisa", is a botanical garden operated by the University of Pisa, and located at via Luca Ghini 5, Pisa, Italy.
The "Museum of Ancient Ships" is a museum in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. The museum exhibits ancient ships and artifacts. The exhibition space is within the ancient halls of the Medici Arsenals. [https://www.pisatoday.it/eventi/museo-navi-antiche-riscopriamo-pisa-1-agosto-2021.html Il Museo delle Navi Antiche: 'Riscopriamo Pisa'] Pisa Today, 01/08/2021[https://www.lanazione.it/pisa/cosa%20fare/navi-1.6489234 Il Museo delle Navi Antiche festeggia San Ranieri] La Nazione Pisa, 16 June 2021
The "Cittadella Nuova", now called the "Giardino di Scotto" or "Giardino Scotto" is an old fortress in Pisa.
"Santa Caterina d'Alessandria" is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
"San Michele degli Scalzi" is a church located in Piazza San Michele degli Scalzi, in the eastern part of Pisa, Italy. It had also been known as the church of "San Michele degli Scalzi in Orticaia", referring to the swampy nature of the site at the time of its founding. The term "Scalzi" refers to the barefoot monks linked to the church. Dating back to the 11th century, it has been restored several times in the original Romanesque style.
"San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno" is a Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is a pre-eminent example of Tuscan Romanesque church architecture. The church is also locally known as "Duomo vecchio".
The underrated National Museum of San Matteo, often overlooked by tourists, holds one of Italy’s most significant collections of medieval art, spanning from the 12th century to the Renaissance. The museum showcases Christian artworks, ceramics, and exquisite illuminated manuscripts by renowned artists like Beato Angelico, Simone Martini, Masaccio, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Donatello.
The Cathedral Museum in Pisa houses a beautifully curated collection of sacred artworks and artifacts that reflect the rich artistic heritage of the buildings on the Piazza dei Miracoli. Definitely worth a visit with the combo ticket. Notable highlights include the sculptures by Giovanni Pisano and the medieval bronze cross from France. The museum opened in 1986 and offers a comprehensive insight into the religious and artistic significance of Pisa during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
This building at the Duomo Square serves as the ticket office for the main attractions in Pisa. However, it is also a museum in its own right. Inside, you'll find a unique collection of preliminary drawings for frescoes that once graced the walls of the Camposanto Monumentale. The museum is particularly appealing to those with an interest in art history.
The "Teatro Verdi" is the main theater in Pisa, one of the major examples of 19th-century theatrical architecture in Italy.
The palace, known as the Palazzo dei Cavalieri, is a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. Designed by Master Architect Giorgio Vasari and built between 1562 and 1564, it once served as the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen. The building's elegant facade—decorated with marble busts and sgraffiti depicting astrological symbols and allegories—reflects the power and legacy of the Medici dynasty. A grand central staircase, renovated in 1821, enhances its monumental effect.
"San Michele in Borgo" is a Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
The city walls, built in the 12th century, offer a 3 km route with stunning elevated views of Pisa. From the well-preserved walls, you can take in the city’s sights while escaping the crowds.
"San Nicola" is a church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
The "Baths of Nero" are an archaeological site near the Porta a Lucca in Pisa, then the Roman city of Colonia Pisana. Now below street level, they are the only Roman remains still standing in the city and form a thermae complex.
The "Palazzo della Sapienza" in Pisa, founded during the Renaissance and extensively renovated in the 20th century, is the main seat of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pisa and the University Library of Pisa.
The "Logge di Banchi" is a portico in Pisa located at the entrance of the Ponte di Mezzo in the southern half of the city center.
"Santa Maria del Carmine" is a Roman Catholic church in Pisa, Italy known for its altarpiece.
The marble pulpit in the Baptistery of Pisa, crafted by Niccolò Pisano in 1260, is considered a masterpiece of the Proto-Renaissance. The hexagonal basin is supported by seven columns, three of which rest on intricately carved lions. The parapet features five detailed reliefs depicting New Testament scenes, including the Annunciation, Nativity, and Last Judgment. This work is particularly notable for its blend of classical influences with Gothic elements, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of European sculpture.
The "Church of the Santo Sepolcro" is a religious edifice in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
"San Sisto" is a church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
The "Viale delle Piagge" is a street in Pisa, located in the eastern outskirts of the city, along the right bank of the Arno River, near the ancient "Porta a Piagge."
The "arsenals of the Republic" were an ancient complex of buildings dedicated to the production and repair of galleys of the ancient Republic of Pisa. Only one building remains from the complex, partially destroyed during the bombings of World War II and restored in 2015.
"San Frediano" is a Romanesque-style Roman Catholic church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. It now functions as the official church of the University of Pisa.[http://www.turismo.pisa.it/it/cultura/dettaglio/Chiesa-di-San-Frediano-00002/ Comune of Pisa], tourism entry on church.
The "Porta a Lucca" is one of the gates of the walls of Pisa, from which the homonymous residential neighborhood takes its name, inhabited by about 20,000 residents.
The "Palazzo dell'Orologio" is one of the buildings overlooking Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa.
"San Francesco de' Ferri" is a church in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
"Sant'Antonio Abate" is a Romanesque-style, Roman Catholic church, located facing Piazza Sant'Antonio in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
"Palazzo Gambacorti" is a historic building in Pisa, home to the municipal administration and one of the most famous palaces along the riverside of Pisa.
"Palazzo Agostini," or "Palazzo dell'Ussero," or "Palazzo Rosso," is one of the most beautiful palaces along the Pisa waterfront, home to the "Caffè dell'Ussero" since 1775 and the "Cinema Lumière" since 1899. It belongs to the family of the counts and patricians of Pisa, Agostini Fantini Venerosi della Seta.
"Villa del Gombo" is located in Pisa, within the San Rossore estate.
The "Fontana dei Putti" is a monumental work made of Carrara marble, located at the entrance of Piazza dei Miracoli and Via Santa Maria in Pisa.
The "Porta Nuova," in addition to being a neighborhood in Pisa, is a gate in the city walls.
The "Palazzo Vecchio de' Medici", also called the "Palazzo della Prefettura" is a Gothic revival-style palace located on Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini #7, in the city of Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
The "Porta di San Ranieri" is the door of the right transept of the Pisa Cathedral.
The "Historical Museum of Airborne Troops" is a military museum of approximately 800 m² located at the Parachuting Training Center in Pisa.
The "Cittadella di Pisa," once known as "terzana" or "terzanaia," is an ancient fortress built at the edge of the walls of Pisa.
"Santa Chiara" is a Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy, a few paces away from the Piazza dei Miracoli.
The "Porta a Mare" is a gate that is part of the ancient walls of Pisa, adjacent to the busy Ponte della Cittadella.
"San Pietro in Vinculis" is a Romanesque-style, Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
The "Domus Mazziniana," formerly known as the "Casa Rosselli-Nathan," is a museum and historical institute dedicated to the figure of Giuseppe Mazzini, who lived in this house under a false name from February 6, 1872, until his death on March 10 of the same year. It was declared a "National Monument" in 1910 and included in the network of "Historical Institutes of National Interest" in 2002. Additionally, the guarantor for the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy identified it as one of the "places of memory" in 2009.
The "National Museum of the Royal Palace" is a museum housed in a former royal palazzo at 46 Lungarno Antonio Pacinotti in Pisa, Italy. The building was designed in 1583 by Bernardo Buontalenti for Francesco I de' Medici and - like the Signoria in Pisa - replaced the Medici palace near the church and monastery of San Matteo. Housing paintings, sculpture, tapestries and decorative arts, since December 2014 the Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali has placed the museum under the control of the Polo museale della Toscana, renamed the Direzione regionale Musei in December 2019.
"Piazza delle Vettovaglie" is a square in the historic center of Pisa, located between via Borgo Stretto and piazza Sant'Omobono.
The "Guelf Tower" is a tower in Pisa near the Citadel, dating back to the mid-15th century.
The "tumulus of the Etruscan Prince" is a funerary monument dated around the 7th century B.C. discovered in the north-western outskirts of Pisa, in the Gagno district, on San Iacopo Street.
"Santi Jacopo e Filippo" or "Santi Iacopo e Filippo" is an ancient church found in Via San Michele degli Scalzi in Pisa, Italy.[https://www.sanjacopoefilippo.it/contatti/contatta-la-parrocchia San Jacope e Filippo Church, official website, "Contact Us"]
"Santa Croce in Fossabanda" is a Renaissance-style Roman Catholic church and monastery in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
The "Synagogue" in Pisa, the capital of the Italian province of Pisa in the Tuscany region, is located at Via Palestro 24.
"San Paolo all'Orto" is a Romanesque-style, former Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
"Santa Cristina" is a Neoclassical-style, Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is located on the Lungarno Gambacorti.
The "Lion's Gate" is located in Pisa. It is situated in the Cathedral Square, beyond the cemetery, in a small clearing.
The statue of Cosimo I de' Medici stands in the middle of Knights' Square of Pisa, just in front of Palazzo della Carovana.
The "Palazzo del Consiglio dei Dodici" is one of the buildings in Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa.
"Piazza Dante" is one of the most recently created squares in the city of Pisa, located in the medieval district of Santa Maria, on the right bank of the Arno River, and the result of a building thinning that took place at the beginning of the 20th century.
"San Martino" is a Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy, facing piazza San Martino, on the left bank of the Arno river.
The "Palazzo Lanfranchi-Toscanelli", presently the local State Archives, is a Renaissance-style palace located on Lungarno Mediceo #30, in the city of Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy. Since 1913 the building has housed the "Archivio di Stato di Pisa".
The "Old Bridge," known as the "Middle Bridge," is a bridge over the Arno in Pisa. Ideally located in the center of the city, it connects Piazza Garibaldi in the Tramontana area to Piazza XX Settembre in the Mezzogiorno, where the Palazzo Pretorio, the Town Hall, and the Logge di Banchi are located.
The "Palazzo Lanfreducci", also called the Palazzo Upezzinghi after 19th century owners, or the "Palazzo Alla Giornata" is a late-Mannerist- or early Baroque-style palace located on Lungarno Pacinotti #43, on the north bank of the Arno river, in the city of Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
The "Tower of Santa Maria," also known in ancient times as the "Tower on the Auser," is the most famous of the towers of the ancient city walls of Pisa, as it closes the north-west side of the fortifications near the renowned Piazza del Duomo.
The "Torre del Campano" is a medieval tower in Pisa, one of the best preserved.
The "Chapel of the Sacrarium of the Fallen of Kindu" is a memorial located near the military airport of Pisa to commemorate the massacre of Kindu.
"San Silvestro" is a former church in Pisa, Italy, facing piazza San Silvestro. It is now deconsecrated.
The "Church of Santa Cecilia" in Pisa is located on Via Santa Cecilia in the San Francesco district.
The "Tenuta di Tombolo" — also known as "Pineta del Tombolo," but not to be confused with the similarly named Pineta del Tombolo located in the province of Grosseto — is a protected natural area that is part of the Migliarino, San Rossore, and Massaciuccoli Natural Park, established on December 13, 1979. It is one of the seven historic estates or farms that make up the park and derives its name from the Latin "tumulus," which means elevation of the land, indicating how this territory originated from coastal dune ridges formed by river sediments.
"San Domenico" is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic church in Pisa, Italy. It was erected in 1385, under the guidance of Pietro Gambacorti, adjacent to a Dominican Convent. Pietro's daughter, the beatified Chiara Gambacorti, resided in that convent.
The "Palazzo delle Vedove" is a palace in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
"Piazza Martiri della Libertà", formerly "Piazza Santa Caterina", The toponym Piazza Santa Caterina is now limited to the area directly in front of the church of the same name. It is located in Pisa, near the Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria.
"San Zeno" is a church and a former abbey in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
The "Palazzo Quaratesi" is located between via Santa Maria in Pisa, not far from the Palazzo delle Vedove and the church of San Nicola.
The "Domus Galilaeana" is a cultural and scientific institute and library, dedicated to the history of science, located in via Santa Maria #26, in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy. Currently, the Domus Galilaeana houses a library with more than 40,000 books and important files relating to scientists of the 20th century.
"Santa Apollonia" is a church in Pisa, Italy.
"Piazza Chiara Gambacorti," formerly known as "Piazza della Pera," is a small square in the heart of the San Martino district of the city of Pisa.
"Piazza Garibaldi" is a square in Pisa located in the city center, at the foot of the Ponte di Mezzo.
The "Oasis of the Cornacchiaia Forest," a protected natural area managed autonomously by the WWF of Pisa, is located at the southern tip of the Tombolo Estate, within the Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli Natural Park, and covers approximately 89 hectares of land owned by the Municipality of Pisa. The area is part of the Site of Community Importance IT5160002 known as Selva Pisana.
"Palazzo Agonigi da Scorno" is located at via Santa Maria, 30, in the center of Pisa.
The "Palazzo Lanfranchi" is a palace located on Lungarno Galileo Galilei #8, in the city of Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy.
The "Chapel of Saint Agatha" is a religious building in Pisa, located on San Paolo Street.
The "Church and Convent of San Matteo" is a medieval religious complex located in Piazza San Matteo in Soarta, Pisa.
The "Piazza delle Gondole" is a piazza in Pisa, Italy. It is next to one of the city gates in the medieval walls. The square includes a small basin where boats used to dock.
The "Palazzo del Collegio Puteano" is a building in Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa, Italy. The palace occupies the whole western part of the square and makes a corner with Via Corsica street.
The "Royal School of Engineering" is a school building located at Via Diotisalvi 2 in Pisa, which currently is part of the University of Pisa.
"Piazza Francesco Carrara" is a large square in Pisa, open to the Lungarno Pacinotti. It is one of the oldest squares in Pisa.
The "Palazzo Boilleau," or "Boileau," also known as the "Palazzo dello Stellino" or "Palazzo Sanminiatelli," is a historic building in the center of Pisa, located in the Santa Maria district, serving as the educational headquarters of the Department of Philology, Literature, and Linguistics at the University of Pisa.
The "Medici Villa of Coltano" is located in the Pisan district of Coltano, immersed in the greenery of the homonymous Coltano Estate. The villa, although at the center of a vast plain, is surrounded by tall trees, making it invisible from the surrounding area.
The "Palazzo dell'Opera della Primaziale" is located in Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, situated on the northern side to the right of the Campo Santo, and was the headquarters of the offices of the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, the entity that manages the Cathedral of Pisa and its monumental complex. Currently, it only houses the offices for surveillance and security, as well as technical departments. The administrative offices and the Chapter of the Primaziale have moved to their new location in Piazza Arcivescovado. Since 2014, it has hosted temporary art exhibitions.
"Palazzo Pretorio" is located in Pisa, on Lungarno Galilei, near the Logge di Banchi and the Ponte di Mezzo. It houses the municipal library.
The "Church of Santa Eufrasia" is located on Via dei Mille in Pisa, in the northern part of the city, once called "Corte Vecchia."