5 Different Places to Go in Pisa, Italy
The coastal Italian town of Pisa sits on the River Arno within the region of Tuscany, famous throughout the world for its delicious produce, wine, and for being the epicenter of the Italian Renaissance. Though Pisa is a small town, it is a must visit for anyone traveling to the region and can be paired perfectly with a visit to the nearby cultural capital of Florence. Once home to great thinkers and artists alike, such as Galileo, this town is steeped in history, which is plain to see by the ancient and medieval sites. A great place to start your travels, here are five things to plan to do once you’ve booked your Pisa flights.
- The Museums of the Ancient Ships of Pisa
This museum has grown from being the home of one of Italy’s most famous recent archaeological digs, to holding the fruit of that work, nine ancient Roman boats and cargo ships that sit as proof of Pisa’s hugely important role as an economic center and port city during ancient Roman times.
- Piazza Dei Miracoli
Better known to visitors as the Piazza del Duomo, this whole square is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and features multiple famous buildings and artworks, the most famous being the easily recognized Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower, however, is only a small part of the Cathedral’s structure, which also features the main 10th-century Cathedral as well as the Baptistery. The Piazza dei Miracoli is home to the most typical examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture, as well as the famous Pisa Griffin statue and Galileo’s Lamp.
- Camposanto
This beautifully designed building centers around a square of earth that is said to have been transported back to Pisa from the holy grounds of Golgotha by Ubaldo de Lanfranchi, the archbishop of Pisa, upon his return from the Fourth Crusade. The building itself, however, which features beautiful frescoes as well as 84 sarcophagi and urns, wasn’t built until the mid 12th century.
- The Arno and Buildings of the Medici
Similar to Florence, Pisa focuses around the banks of the famous River Arno, which WWII troops followed inland from Pisa to free the towns of Tuscany one by one. The Medici Palace and the Toscanelli Palace amongst other classic medieval buildings can be found along this stretch, as well as delicious restaurants and great cafés and bars to relax in and have a drink.
- Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
This museum is home to many of the great artworks that once hung from the walls and stood in the hallways of the Duomo’s Cathedral and Baptistery. The highlights are Pisano’s 13th-century ivory carving of the Madonna and Child, as well as the cloister garden that features exquisite views of the Leaning Tower.
However you decide to spend your time in Pisa and the serene Tuscan countryside, you will certainly be happy that you visited.
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
