Pisa

Pisa is a university city in Tuscany on the Arno river, once a powerful maritime republic that traded across the Mediterranean. It is known around the world for its Leaning Tower, but the city also has a lively old town shaped by students and centuries of learning.

The Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gathers the white marble cathedral, the round baptistery, the Camposanto cemetery and the famous bell tower, which began to lean during construction and can be climbed. The cathedral's bronze doors and Giovanni Pisano's pulpit are masterpieces of medieval art. The Museum of the Opera del Duomo and the Sinopie Museum complete the ensemble. Show more

Beyond the square, Piazza dei Cavalieri, with the Palazzo della Carovana of the Scuola Normale, recalls the knightly order of Santo Stefano. The Lungarni, the riverside promenades, are lined with palaces and the small Gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina. Borgo Stretto is the arcaded shopping street, and the botanical garden of the university is one of the oldest in Europe. The coast at Marina di Pisa and the San Rossore park lie a short distance away.

Pisa has Tuscany's main international airport, close to the city centre, and trains to Florence, Lucca and the coast. One day is enough for the main sights, and two allow time for the old town. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, while the square is busiest in summer.