Things to do in Pisa
Situated between the major tourist attractions of Florence and Milan, Pisa is often viewed as the ideal destination for a day trip, with visitors doing little more than heading up the famous tower before catching the coach back to base.
However, travellers who decide to spend a little longer in the city will be well rewarded, with many discovering that Pisa has much to offer aside from architectural disasters.
Pisa is situated on the north side of the Arno river and is surrounded by original 12th century walls. The city has retained much of its old charm, with the 16th century shops and houses along the Via Santa Maria and the Piazza Dei Cavalieri giving visitors a real sense of the Pisa's rich historical past.
The famous tower is situated in the Campo dei Miracoli, or Field of Miracles. Here, the camposanto, battistero and the duomo can also be found, rightly giving the structures the term of the "four wonders". This quartet of attractions offers fans of architecture a wealth of delights, with Pisan, Roman, Gothic, Moorish and Mediterranean designs all in evidence.
The duomo, or cathedral, built in the 11th century, is staggering in its size and is responsible for Pisa's main attraction, which is, in fact, the cathedral's bell tower.
The tower is extremely popular, even in winter, and it is advisable to book ahead if you want to climb its floors, although those prepared to queue can turn up on the day. The tower is gradually heading off-kilter at the rate of a millimetre a year and is currently 4.1 metres off perpendicular.
The battistero or baptistery is the largest in Italy, while the camposanto is widely regarded as one of the country's most beautiful cemeteries.
While the Campo dei Miracoli's sandy soil had its most noticeable impact upon the bell tower, both the battistero and the duomo are also far from straight when viewed from certain angles.
To the south of the camposanto are two major museums. The Museo delle Sinopie contains many plaster sketches from camposanto frescoes that were badly hit by fire in 1944 while the Museo dell'Opera houses a large collection of sculptures and paintings from the buildings around the Piazza del Duomo.
Many visitors do not know that the city also has another leaning tower, the 12th Santa Maria della Spina which can be found across the river.
Keen shoppers will find that the Corso Italia will provide many establishments to entice them, although there are gems to be found throughout the city. Apart from the main department stores, most shops are closed between 13:00 and 16:00.
For a respite from the busy attractions, try the Orto Botanico di Pisa or Botanical Gardens, which are just a short walk from the leaning tower. Founded in 1540, the Orto Botanico are the oldest botanical gardens in Europe and offer a huge collection of plants and flowers from all over the world. Located in the city's renowned university, the gardens offer the visitor a wonderful place to relax in the middle of the city.
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Things to do
