Pisa is strategically located in the central part of Italy. It is only 12 km from the Ligurian Sea, 20 km from the harbour of Livorno and the ferries heading to the Elba Island, Sardinia and Corsica, 80 km from Florence. This city is closely associated with the Leaning Tower. But Pisa also preserves, with the whole complex of Piazza dei Miracoli - cultural patrimony of all humanity - and its medieval centre, numerous masterpieces of architecture and medieval history. The area around Pisa is also excellent for farm-holidays, trekking, beaches and water sports on the Versilian coast. Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Italy with a population of some 90,000 people. Pisa is best known for the world famous Leaning Tower, but those who come here with their mind already made up that the Tower is the only thing to see may miss the rest of the architectural and artistic marvels of this beautiful city. Pisa hotels and Pisa interactive map. Amongst a plethora of cities so enticing its amazing Italy isn’t even more inundated with tourists than it already is, Pisa stands out for one reason alone: The Leaning Tower. In a seemingly constant state of near collapse, the ornate column is perfectly placed for photographs of visitors ‘holding it up’, ‘leaning against it’ and ‘pushing it over with one finger’. Pisa is best known for its leaning tower but there is much more to see in Pisa, Italy. The area around the cathedral and tower is beautiful and can easily occupy several hours. Pisa was one of the four great maritime republics in the middle ages and retains a good selection of monuments from that era. There's also the Arno River, a university, and several interesting museums. It's a good city for strolling and enjoying at a leisurely pace.

Pisa, renowned worldwide for its Leaning Tower deserves more than the usual day stop which traditionally occurs on tourist routes. The city of Pisa boasts an ancient history which was at its most splendid during the era of the Marine Republic. For tourists, Pisa is a treasure chest full of surprises; from the bright Lungarni quays walled by noble buildings, to the web of narrow, medieval alleys leading to the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. Home of Galileo Galilei, Pisa is today an important university city and offers a lively student lifestyle.

Pisa, located in western Tuscany, is known throughout the world for its famous Leaning Tower, but there is so much more to Pisa than just this striking landmark. This ecclesiastical city began its life as a seaside settlement around 3,000 years ago and was first laid out in the mid-eleventh century. Today, Pisa is crammed full of wonderful, historical monuments and buildings dating back many hundreds of years, and much of the city has managed to retain its medieval appearance. Pisa is also known for its excellent university, which was established in 1343 and has become one of Italy's top schools.

Pisa Top Attractions The Leaning Tower of Pisa - This one of the most famous landmarks in Italy. Building of the tower began in 1173 and while still building the third gallery, it already began to lean over. Building of the tower was halted for almost a century, untill it was finaly completed in 1275. This is a sight not to be missed.

Church of Santa Maria della Spina - The Church of Santa Maria della Spina is located on the south bank of the river Arno, originaly it was closer to the river but was moved to its current position in 1871 due to fears of flooding. The church is Pisa's finest example of Gothic architecture and is one of the top attractions in town.

Camposanto Vecchio - This historical site dates back to 1278 and was established as a museum in the early 19th century. It exhibits 14th and 15th century detached frescos; Roman sarcophagi; statues; sculptures; tombstones; and Medieval and Renaissance architectural elements. There are many interesting exhibits to see, so you should set aside a few hours in order to get through them all.

Osteria dei Santi This is one of the first non-touristy restaurants in the Tower area. It is very affordable and it has excellent food. It is very busy at lunch time because the people who work at the University Departments nearby go there.

Lungarni To understand the past and the present of Pisa, one should not miss a walk around the Lungarni, the streets running along the river. There are amazing buildings here, popular and noble. Walking on the Lungarno you can see the typical Tower houses, and many noble palaces which accommodated famous writers over the centuries, such as Lord Byron and P.B. Shelley. submitted by Gloria - Behind the Tower, 14/11/05

Piazza dei Cavalieri Piazza dei Cavalieri is as beautiful as the Field of Miracles, with the only difference that most tourists just ignore it! It is an amazing square, which is believed to have been the heart of the forum at the time of Roman Pisae. It was the centre of the political power during the Republican period and it was transformed by Cosimo I of the Medici family into the head quarters of the new military force of the Knights of Saint Stephen. The present look is due to a redesign by famous architect Vasari. There are very beautiful buildings hosting one of the most prestigious Universities in Italy, Scuola Normale Superiore and the beautiful Church of Santo Stefano. The library of the school was the tower of the Count Ugolino mentioned in Dante's Divina Commedia. submitted by Gloria - Behind the Tower, 14/11/05

Pisa Activities Parco di Migliarino - This regional park was established in 1979 and covers over 24,000 hectares, and is situated along the coast from Viareggio and Livorno. This is a great place to go and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, and get back to nature.

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Pisa is best known for the world famous Leaning Tower, but those who come here with their mind already made up that the Tower is the only thing to see may miss the rest of the architectural and artistic marvels of this beautiful city. The long walk from the Campo dei Miracoli to the train station is run through a pedestrian mall with many interesting sights, shops, and restaurants. Pisa is a safe city, you do not need to worry about your property or person. However you should take the obvious precautions (like, if you stay in a very cheap hotel, take your valuables with you) and watch out for pickpockets in the touristy areas.

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Get in Pisa

Pisa Centrale is the main train station of Pisa. Rome to Genova trains stop at Pisa Centrale. If you are planning an in-route visit to Pisa, it is also convenient since Pisa Centrale has Left Luggage service open from 6AM-9PM. Each baggage deposited costs €3 for 12 hr.

Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (IATA: PSA) is the main airport of Tuscany and is served by several airlines operating hundreds of weekly flights to national and international destinations. Numerous companies offer charter flights to and from a number of European and non-European destinations. Flying to Pisa is really cheap and easy: the most recognized low-cost airlines serve Pisa. The airport is close to the city center - it takes only a few minutes to reach the center by bus, train or taxi. It is even possible to walk to the center, which takes around 20 min.

Do not expect the airport to be open 24/7, though. Many smaller European airports do have opening hours, so don't expect to stay overnight or hang out until late.

You can purchase bus and train tickets from the information desk in the arrivals hall. The trains are the fastest way to get to the city but run only twice per hour. The tickets cost €1.10 and the ride takes only about 5 min.

The bus (The Red Line or LAM Rosso towards Jacobo) has a regular service every 15 min and it takes about 15 min to get to the city. The bus runs to Piazza dei Miracoli and the central station. Since the ticket machine at the bus stop "speaks" only Italian, it's better to get the tickets from the information desk if you don't speak the language. Single fare is €1, but if you buy them from the driver on the bus, you pay double that. All convenience and book shops also sell the ticket. You may need two tickets since each ticket is valid for only 30 min.

The bus terminal is directly in front of the airport, on the right side when coming out of the terminal building. Once you are in the city, its main sights are easy to locate and are all within walking distance. If you are boarding the bus from the Train station, cross the road in front of the station and walk a few feet to the right.

If you prefer a more convenient method of travel, a taxi to the city centre will cost around €6-8.

Pisa By carpooling

One of the most convenient ways to arrive in Pisa is by carpooling: you can split the costs and make the journey cheaper. You can find a lift to get to Pisa on the website Passaggio.it

BEST PISA TRAVEL GUIDES Plan a Pisa vacation with reviews tips photos posted by real travelers and Pisa locals and more...

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