Pisa is one of Italy’s most famous cities, mostly because of its Leaning Tower. It stands on the mesmerizing Piazza dei Miracoli, that can keep you busy for quite some time. The rest of the day can be filled with discovering the lesser-known, but less touristic part of this Tuscan city.
Despite its fame, Pisa is not the best location for a multiday city trip. The village isn’t studded with sights and monuments all over. Most of them are in fact concentrated on the Piazza dei Miracoli. Because the city is so compact and the main places of interest are rather close to one another, you only need one day to conquer Pisa.
Combining Pisa with other parts of Italy
Another reason why Pisa is such a great day trip is its location. As a result, it’s one of the few foreign places I have visited more than once already. The first time was on a trip to Tuscany, where we based ourselves in Florence. During this trip we only visited the Piazza dei Miracoli on an organized half-day trip. But you could also go to Pisa by yourself from Florence if you want to explore some more. The two cities are about one hour and a half apart by car or you could opt for a one-hour train ride. If you go on a road trip through the popular region of Tuscany, adding a stop in Pisa is also a good idea. When you travel to the area by plane, you might want to look into the option of buying tickets to and from Pisa.
The second time I went to Pisa, I also ventured out of the Piazza dei Miracoli. The reason we visited this Tuscan city once more, was because we flew in and out of Pisa airport on our holiday to Cinque Terre. Pisa is one of the main gateways to these astonishing villages along the Ligurian Coast. After our visit to these five picturesque towns and magnificent adjacent Portovenere, we spent a night in Pisa so we were certain we wouldn’t miss our flight home. As we had the time, we also included a visit to the city itself. If Cinque Terre and Pisa are both still on your Italian bucket list, it’s a great idea to combine them.
The Piazza dei Miracoli
The Piazza dei Miracoli, which translates to Square of Miracles, is without a doubt Pisa’s main draw card. Rightfully so, as it is the most spectacular thing to see in the city … and as a result it is also the busiest place. The walled plaza and its buildings are a Unesco World Heritage Site and you could easily spend half a day admiring all the Piazza has to offer.
Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta
The Square of Miracles is also known as the Piazza del Duomo. Despite what you might think the Duomo (or cathedral) is the main building on the square, not the Leaning Tower. Construction of the cathedral began in the 11th century and was finished at the start of the 12th. The dome was built two centuries later. When the Duomo was finished it was the largest of the continent.
This white marble place of worship is beautiful to admire from the outside, but make sure to also go in. There’s a lot of art inside the cathedral. Entrance is free, but you need to book a ticket for a certain time slot to visit.
The Leaning Tower
Pisa is home to probably the most famous bell tower in the world … thanks to an architectural flaw. The Torre Pendente is the main reason why the city is on many travellers’ radar and it does not need an extensive introduction as everyone can picture it very clearly.
Climbing the tower is special, as you can actually feel that the tower is tilting while you walk up the stairs. At the top you’ll see the clocks and you can look out over the Piazza and the city, although the view is hindered partly by a fence. A ticket to visit the tower costs €18 on site. You can also purchase your ticket beforehand, so you can skip the line and are sure you can enter, but this costs more.
Battistero
In front of the cathedral stands the round baptistry. They started building it in the 12th century but only finished in the 14th. Entrance costs 5 euros, or you can buy a combination ticket for 7 euros to visit the Battistero together with Camposanto or the Museo delle Sinopie. If you go to the Upper Gallery, you can witness a demonstration of the acoustics and echo effects of the Baptistry’s dome.
Camposanto
The least notable of the four religious buildings on the Piazza is Camposanto. It’s a walled cemetery that may not be too remarkable from the outside, but is known for the beauty of its interior. If you only visit Camposanto, you need a ticket that costs 5 euros. When you combine this monument with a visit to another landmark, you can buy a combined ticket at a reduced price.
The rest of Pisa
The river Arno
Through the city centre streams the Arno, lined with houses that scream Italy. Take a stroll along Pisa’s riverside and you’ll surely feel like a true citizen of the boot-shaped country, as you won’t spot too many tourists here. Keep an eye out for the Palazzo Blu during your walk. A striking blue building that is now a museum.
Church of Santa Maria della Spina
It’s a small but pretty church, the one of Santa Maria della Spina. Though her looks are not the most remarkable part of this picturesque building. Its location is. The church was built right on the river banks of the Arno. This unique church is not to miss on your walk along the river!
Pisa’s Piazza’s
While the Piazza dei Miracoli is definitely the most famous one, you might want to add some of Pisa’s smaller and less touristic piazza’s to your list. We passed by the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and Piazza Garibaldi. Apparently the Piazza dei Cavalieri (or Knight’s Square) is lovely too, but I didn’t make it there.
Corso Italia
The Corso Italia is the main walking and shopping street of Pisa. In addition, it’s the perfect route to go to the Piazza dei Miracoli if you come from the train station.
A day trip in Pisa can perfectly be combined with a longer stay in Cinque Terre and a visit to Portovenere.
