A DAY IN PISA: WHAT TO SEE AND DO

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Pisa It's a tiny city, perfect to be walking tour in one day. Everyone knows her for her Leaning Tower, but if, hypothetically, you are reading this article after the Tower of Pisa has collapsed, do not come down yourself too ... there are more things to see and do in Pisa.

This article is intended for those who will be One day in Pisa, this is the best itinerary:

Suppose you arrive by train, you have to know that from the central station of Pisa to the Duomo Square (Piazza dei Miracoli) there are 2 km, or what is the same, about 25 minutes walking, well entertained huh? But in the end we will end up touring more ... It seems that it is all good news!

A few meters from the station, in the Vittorio Emanuele II square, you will find the Parish of San Antonio Abad. The interesting thing about this church is not its architecture or its treasures, but the graffiti that occupies the entire rear facade of the building. Is he "Tuttomundo“, The work of Keith Haring that shaped him in 1989 (a few months before he died). It consists of a total of 30 figures placed in a kind of tetris, which represent peace and harmony in the world.

Later we will meet him Arno river, but before crossing it you can make a brief stop at the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina, in gothic style and with white marble walls, which seems to be born out of nowhere on the banks of the Arno. To the little ladder we will cross by Put on Soferino,with beautiful views of the colorful houses at the ends of the river.

On the other side of the bridge, if you turn right and follow the river, you will pass through some of the most beautiful buildings in the city, including thePalazzo Agostini, also known as Palazzo dell'Ussero, which exhibits a curious brick facade from the 15th century.

Continuing you get to Piazza Garibaldi and right in front is the Ponte di Mezzo, which overlooks the Piazza XX Settembre where the Pisa Town Hall. On the other side of the bridge the elegant one is distinguishedPalazzo Gambacorti, a 14th century Gothic building with clock tower and loggia.

We prefer not to cross the bridge and continue wandering around this part of the city. Thus we first meet the church of San Pietro In Vinculis, in whose interior the funerary underground crypt stands out with its carved columns. And later with thePiazza delle Vettovaglie, where every morning the local market is placed with fruit and vegetable stands (its name translates as the “food market”). Under its characteristic porches there are bars, taverns and food stores, a good place for the refreshment stop.

And as we love the provisioning stops from here we follow our route throughBorgo Stretto, one of the most lively and picturesque streets of Pisa and where the true charm of the city is felt. If you get hungry and / or thirsty (again) this is a good place, because it is full of good restaurants and cheaper than in other more touristy areas. A stop can be the old one Pasticceria Salza, to regain strength with some of their pastries and cakes.

Among the porches will suddenly appear theChiesa di San Michele in Borgo, over 1000 years old, with a beautiful facade, although a normal interior.

All this, obviously, is enjoyed much more with an ice cream ...

Continuing you can go through the landscaped garden Piazza Dante Alighieri and get to Piazza dei Cavalieri, where one of the most beautiful monuments of Pisa is located, the Palazzo della Carovana, with a spectacular facade. In the same square is the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. From there to Piazza dei Miracoli are 5 minutes walk…

Hey, have you seen the one of things that can be done a day in Pisa?

And we arrived at the main course of the day ... Piazza dei Miracoli! To enter the tower of Pisa You will need to buy the ticket. You can do it online, on the official website Opapisa (cheaper) or if you do not speak English / Italian you can buy in Spanish here here.

You have the option to take advantage and hire a guided tour in Spanish, with tickets included. More info and book here or here.

If you prefer not to book in advance, you can go first to the Tower and ask if there are tickets for that day and at what time (they only allow 30 people to enter at a time). If they give you entrance within an hour, take the time to visit the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Camposanto, the other jewels of the square:

The Pisa Duomo It is a medieval cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin. Its construction began in 1064 by Buscheto, although it was Rainaldo, who devised the impressive facade of white and gray stone, who took the great merit. Admission to the Duomo is free.

The Pisa BaptisteryIt is next to the Duomo and is the largest baptistery in Italy (and together with that of Florence the most beautiful). There we will also find theCemetery, a monumental cemetery. Admission to one of the two sites costs € 5 and to both of the sites € 7.

And then back to the tower of Pisa. The "Leaning Tower" was built in the year 1173 as a bell tower of the Duomo and was built on a sandy ground, so it began to lean even before its construction was finished. After many attempts to correct this defect (which were mostly more damaging), it was possible to stabilize in 1999 and correct the excess inclination.

No, do not worry that the tower will not fall: nowadays every millimeter change of the structural behavior of the tower is monitored to, in case of risk, act quickly and efficiently. If you want to contribute your grain of sand you can take the typical photo holding the tower, as well, to support it morally.

In the northwest part of the square you can see a copy of the Capitoline wolf on a column, the symbol of Rome. If you have not been to the capital of Italy yet, this can be a snack.

And here the tour ends. If you don't want to keep kicking, you can take the LAM Rossa city bus and return to the train station. Arrivederci Pisa!

If you had more time these are some other things you can see and doa day in Pisa:

- Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, a small and simple church, but with a beautiful window and interior decoration. A haven of peace and tranquility.

- On the south bank of the Arno River is thePalazzo Blu, in whose interior temporary exhibitions of payment are made (many of them of great quality). Although the entrance to the rest of the dependencies and the permanent exhibition is free (something not very normal).

- From the train station on the way to the center of Pisa, before crossing the Arno on the left you will find theChiesa di San Paolo to Ripa d'Arno, the old cathedral of Pisa dating from the year 952, with a beautiful facade.

- If you need to connect to the Internet for a moment, we propose a different way, instead of going to a closed cafeteria, why not connect in the shade of a tree in a beautiful park? Take a walk along the river to reach theGiardino Scotto, an oasis of tranquility in Pisa, where there is free wifi! A very nice place to have a picnic if you have time.

- If you enjoy nature and these gardens fall short, you can go to the oldest university botanical garden in the world. TheBotanical Orto di Pisa It is in the center of the city and you will probably pass by, if you have time and desire you know! Admission costs € 2.50.

- Not many people know that in Via San Martino a pear-shaped stone that probably goes unnoticed is located on the sidewalk. Well, it's nothing more than a Etruscan marble tombstone very old (although now it is usually the perfect dog bowl). It can be a perfect excuse to walk through this beautiful street.

- As a visit outside Pisa we highlight the Romanesque Basilica of San Piero a Grado, a place that few tourists know but a true pilgrimage center, far from the crowds of Piazza dei Miracoli. Inside you can enjoy beautiful mosaics and altars. To get there you can take the extra-urban bus 10 (with destination Livorno) or 20 (destination Calambrone).

Useful information

:: Where to sleep in Pisa?

The city can be seen in one day although, as always, if you want to enjoy it 100% (especially after the hundreds of tourists have left) we recommend you to spend a night in Pisa. Here you have the accommodation in Pisa at the best price.

:: How to get to the Tower of Pisa from the train station?

You can make the round trip walking and back take the LAM ROSSA bus from the stop “Via Bonanno Pisano, 113” (near Piazza del Duomo) to the station. Or if you prefer to go first to see the Duomo and the Tower, take the bus at the station (the same) and walk down. The price of the ticket is € 1.20 and you will have to buy the ticket at a kiosk or tobacconist station. You can also go on bus 4, to the “Via Santa Caterina” stop, somewhat further away.

:: Where to leave the suitcase in Pisa?

In the tourist office in the Piazza del Duomo they have luggage storage service (€ 4 per large suitcase). More info in Italian. There is also a website where you can find private places to leave your luggage for a price that is usually € 5 per bag: bagbnb. They also have this service at the central train station.

:: How much does the entrance to the Tower of Pisa cost?

€ 18, entrance to the Tower and the Cathedral.

:: What is the best area to eat in Pisa?

Without a doubt, the Borgo Stretto area, full of offers for students ... or what it means: cheap! In Piazza Garibaldi there is a good option: the Bazzel bar offers a buffet “all you can eat” at noon with water, dessert and coffee included for € 9.90.

:: Tour to Pisa from Florence

If you are staying in Florence but want to visit Pisa with a tour, you can take a look at this. It costs € 75 and includes admission to the Tower, Duomo, guide in Spanish and transportation from / to your hotel. (€ 45 without the entrance to the Tower).

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Video: TOP 10: Things To Do In Pisa (March 2024).