Pisa
Pisa travel guide - Things to do and see in Pisa, Tuscany
Itinerary Pisa: Sightseeing tours - bike tours - day tours - wine tours
Pisa is the capital of the province Pisa and has about 87.870 inhabitants (as of December 31st, 2011). Most prominent landmark is the “Campanile” which is known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Pisa is one of the towns in Tuscany that remained authentic and real. If you just walk a few hundred meters away from the tower and the square “Piazza dei Miracoli”, you will find the typical small alleys, bars and the typical, in Pisan yellow painted houses that still allow you to sense the former wealth of the city.
Check our insider's travel guide to Pisa, featuring the best Events of Pisa, Night Live of Pisa and sightseeing tours to discover the stunning landmarks, markets, churches, museums and monuments of Pisa Tuscany.
Things to see in Pisa, Tuscany
The Cathedral and the Baptisterium can be found at the Campo die Miracoli; both are of Romanesque-Pisan style. Also you can see the Camposanto Monumentale and the Campanile, the famous Leaning Tower.
The church Santa Maria della Spina, also known as thorn-church, is a small, yet interesting church in Pisa.
Santo Sepolcro (holy tomb) is a Romanesque church that is certainly worth seeing.
The Piazza dei Cavalieri (square of the knights) is famous for its prestigious buildings.
Typical cuisine of Pisa
Are you planing a day trip to Pisa or to the tuscany countryside? Please check our travel guide for the best restaurants in Pisa, wine tasting courses or selected wine tours discovering the most famous tuscan wineries of the Chianti or the Brunello region guided by a certified Tuscan wine sommelier.
Among the special recipes of the region of Pisa is the white kidney bean soup of San Michele, the Bavettine-Pasta with fish and the soup with the small Arselle mussels. Of course you cannot forget the pastoral products like mushrooms, chestnuts, corn and truffles.
Also there are some Pisan specialties among the main courses like the pork liver, eel Pisan style and dried cod. There is a large variety of sausage products, like the Tuscan blood sausage or bacon.
A typical dessert from the region is the „la Torta coi Bischeri”, a cake with pine nuts, chocolate, raisins and candied lemon peel that is often enjoyed with a glass of Vin Santo.
Local wines are the Chianti Colli Pisani, the Rosso of San Miniato and the Trebbiano.
Indulge your passion for Italian food or life style on a cookery holiday combined with language courses in Pisa Tuscany and enjoy our hands-on cooking lessons and cookery courses in Tuscany Pisa.
Events of Pisa
Ever since the end of the 14th century the “Gioco del Ponte” is celebrated on the last Sunday of June.
Two festivities are dedicated to the city’s patron San Ranieri, whose remains are preserved in the cathedral.
Every year on June 16th, the day before the day of San Ranieri, the “Luminara” celebrations take place.
Then on June17th, the “Regatta di San Ranieri” takes place.
Things to do in Pisa, Tuscany
Discover the marvelous countryisde of Pisa and Tuscany joining a grape harvest festival or olive harvest festival, taking a bicycile tour in Tuscany visiting one of the nature parks or follow up our tracking itinerary.
If you want deeply to relax and re-charge all your energies a Spa journey would be perfect within your Pisa or Tuscan holiday. Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool.
Great destinations for trips are the beaches of Marina di Vecchiano and Foce del Serchio – the area of the mouth of the river Serchio.
San Rossore – a spacious beach with unique dunes and an impressive forest with knobby trees. It is a wonderful nature reserve for hiking and discovering.
Marina di Pisa – This small town is located right in the south of the mouth of the river Arno, and this seaside resort looks back on golden times with villas and residences of famous people.
Tirrenia – In the north of this town (in the district Lido); the beach is very wide and there are many lidos.
Calambrone – The beach is spacious and bordered by dunes.
The spas of the region, San Giuliano Terme, Uliveto Terme and Casciana Terme are known for their healing waters.
Taking a trip with the mountain bike or horseback riding is possible.
The 18-hole golf court Tirrenia is not far from Pisa.
Holiday in Pisa or Tuscany countryside
The Coast line of Tuscany offers many splendid white beaches. A guide to Tuscany's best beaches with reviews and what to do when you're there, chosen by our local experts.
Our portfolio of hand picked rental villas with pool, holiday houses, romantic country houses and cottages, apartments or rooms for rent with a view in Tuscany offers you authentic, charming and private accommodation for a unique holiday experience.
No matter if you favor family holidays, beach holidays, golf holidays, luxury holidays or a pet friendly accommodation, we have the best private rentals in Tuscany available for you!
History of Pisa, Tuscany
In medieval times Pisa was one of the four maritime republics of Italy (next to Genoa, Amalfi and Venice). The city was competing with the Tuscan neighbor republics Lucca, Florence and Siena. In the year 1406 the republic of Pisa lost its independence to Florence. During this time a peculiar city language developed, the Pisan. It is still spoken today and also the sanguine writing tradition (Scripta) is preserved up to today.
Pisa became also known for the council of Pisa, a church assembly in the year 1409. By electing Alexander V and his successor John XXIII it was intended to end the Western Schism, a split within the Latin Church. The council’s intentions didn’t succeed though, as now there were three popes, one in Rome, one in Avignon and one in Pisa at the same time.
Famous sons of the city are Galileo Galilei, after whom the airport of Pisa was named, and Fibonacci (Leonardo of Pisa) one of the most important mathematicians of the Medieval Times.
Oddities
Keith Haring (1958 - 1990) is a young, American artist that is internationally known for his „Subway Drawings“. The back wall of the church Sant’Antonio was entirely painted by him in the year 1989. The painting with the name „Tuttomondo“ (the entire world) is his biggest one throughout Europe.
Economy
The economy of the province of Pisa is dominated by the shoe-, chemical- and pharmaceutical industry. Yet also the tourism, wine and olive cultivation, as well as the service sector play an important role for the province’s economy.
Climate of Pisa, Tuscany
The best season of the year to visit Pisa is the late summer or early fall. The mild climate allows you to enjoy the beauty of the coastline until the beginning of October, and in early fall the smooth hills light up in fascinating nuances.
Arrival
Car
Pisa has two highway exits at the highway A11 that leads from Genoa to Livorno. Pisa Nord and Pisa Centro-Aeroporto. The latter leads visitors right to the historic center of the city.
Airport Pisa (Aeroporto Galileo Galilei or San Giusto)
This airport, which is the most important one in Tuscany (also for the capital Florence) connects Pisa with all big Italian cities and the most important cities in Western Europe. It is located about two kilometers south of Pisa and is connected to the center with trains (every 20 min., travel time: 5 min.), buses (every 30 min., travel time to Piazza die Miracoli about 10 min.) and taxis.
Pisa has three train stations, Pisa Centrale, Pisa Aeroporto and Pisa San Rossore. Pisa Centrale is the main train station, where all important, mostly regular connections to the most prominent cities like Rome, Genoa, Turin, Naples, Livorno, Grosseto and Florence depart. Pisa Aeroporto is the station at the airport. Pisa San Rossore – near the Leaning Tower- connects Pisa with Lucca and Pistoia.
Local public transportation
The bus network of Pisa connects the entire urban area. The tickets can be bought at the bus counters at the airport, at the bus terminals or in tobacco shops. The public transportation in Pisa is organized by the “Compagnia Pisana Trasporti" (CPT), and the busses to other Italian cities depart at the Piazza Sant'Antonio. “Terravision" offers an express bus from the airport of Pisa to the train station “Santa Maria Novella" in Florence.
Those who want to rent a bike will be helped here:
Centro Visite
S. Rossore Estate
Tel: 0039 - (0)50 - 533755
Eco-rent
Via Tosco Romagnola 1321
San Casciano
Tel: 0039 - (0)50 - 777461
Pisa Scooter & Bike Rental
Via Santa Maria, 129
56126 Pisa
Tel: 0039 - (0)50 - 555453
Fax: 0039 - (0)50 – 556145
Natalie Fritsch
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Pisa travel guide - Things to do and see in Pisa, Tuscany
Pisa
Pisa travel guide - Things to do and see in Pisa, Tuscany
Itinerary Pisa: Sightseeing tours - bike tours - day tours - wine tours
Pisa is the capital of the province Pisa and has about 87.870 inhabitants (as of December 31st, 2011). Most prominent landmark is the “Campanile” which is known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Pisa is one of the towns in Tuscany that remained authentic and real. If you just walk a few hundred meters away from the tower and the square “Piazza dei Miracoli”, you will find the typical small alleys, bars and the typical, in Pisan yellow painted houses that still allow you to sense the former wealth of the city.
Check our insider's travel guide to Pisa, featuring the best Events of Pisa, Night Live of Pisa and sightseeing tours to discover the stunning landmarks, markets, churches, museums and monuments of Pisa Tuscany.
Things to see in Pisa, Tuscany
The Cathedral and the Baptisterium can be found at the Campo die Miracoli; both are of Romanesque-Pisan style. Also you can see the Camposanto Monumentale and the Campanile, the famous Leaning Tower.
The church Santa Maria della Spina, also known as thorn-church, is a small, yet interesting church in Pisa.
Santo Sepolcro (holy tomb) is a Romanesque church that is certainly worth seeing.
The Piazza dei Cavalieri (square of the knights) is famous for its prestigious buildings.
Typical cuisine of Pisa
Are you planing a day trip to Pisa or to the tuscany countryside? Please check our travel guide for the best restaurants in Pisa, wine tasting courses or selected wine tours discovering the most famous tuscan wineries of the Chianti or the Brunello region guided by a certified Tuscan wine sommelier.
Among the special recipes of the region of Pisa is the white kidney bean soup of San Michele, the Bavettine-Pasta with fish and the soup with the small Arselle mussels. Of course you cannot forget the pastoral products like mushrooms, chestnuts, corn and truffles.
Also there are some Pisan specialties among the main courses like the pork liver, eel Pisan style and dried cod. There is a large variety of sausage products, like the Tuscan blood sausage or bacon.
A typical dessert from the region is the „la Torta coi Bischeri”, a cake with pine nuts, chocolate, raisins and candied lemon peel that is often enjoyed with a glass of Vin Santo.
Local wines are the Chianti Colli Pisani, the Rosso of San Miniato and the Trebbiano.
Indulge your passion for Italian food or life style on a cookery holiday combined with language courses in Pisa Tuscany and enjoy our hands-on cooking lessons and cookery courses in Tuscany Pisa.
Events of Pisa
Ever since the end of the 14th century the “Gioco del Ponte” is celebrated on the last Sunday of June.
Two festivities are dedicated to the city’s patron San Ranieri, whose remains are preserved in the cathedral.
Every year on June 16th, the day before the day of San Ranieri, the “Luminara” celebrations take place.
Then on June17th, the “Regatta di San Ranieri” takes place.
Things to do in Pisa, Tuscany
Discover the marvelous countryisde of Pisa and Tuscany joining a grape harvest festival or olive harvest festival, taking a bicycile tour in Tuscany visiting one of the nature parks or follow up our tracking itinerary.
If you want deeply to relax and re-charge all your energies a Spa journey would be perfect within your Pisa or Tuscan holiday. Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool.
Great destinations for trips are the beaches of Marina di Vecchiano and Foce del Serchio – the area of the mouth of the river Serchio.
San Rossore – a spacious beach with unique dunes and an impressive forest with knobby trees. It is a wonderful nature reserve for hiking and discovering.
Marina di Pisa – This small town is located right in the south of the mouth of the river Arno, and this seaside resort looks back on golden times with villas and residences of famous people.
Tirrenia – In the north of this town (in the district Lido); the beach is very wide and there are many lidos.
Calambrone – The beach is spacious and bordered by dunes.
The spas of the region, San Giuliano Terme, Uliveto Terme and Casciana Terme are known for their healing waters.
Taking a trip with the mountain bike or horseback riding is possible.
The 18-hole golf court Tirrenia is not far from Pisa.
Holiday in Pisa or Tuscany countryside
The Coast line of Tuscany offers many splendid white beaches. A guide to Tuscany's best beaches with reviews and what to do when you're there, chosen by our local experts.
Our portfolio of hand picked rental villas with pool, holiday houses, romantic country houses and cottages, apartments or rooms for rent with a view in Tuscany offers you authentic, charming and private accommodation for a unique holiday experience.
No matter if you favor family holidays, beach holidays, golf holidays, luxury holidays or a pet friendly accommodation, we have the best private rentals in Tuscany available for you!
History of Pisa, Tuscany
In medieval times Pisa was one of the four maritime republics of Italy (next to Genoa, Amalfi and Venice). The city was competing with the Tuscan neighbor republics Lucca, Florence and Siena. In the year 1406 the republic of Pisa lost its independence to Florence. During this time a peculiar city language developed, the Pisan. It is still spoken today and also the sanguine writing tradition (Scripta) is preserved up to today.
Pisa became also known for the council of Pisa, a church assembly in the year 1409. By electing Alexander V and his successor John XXIII it was intended to end the Western Schism, a split within the Latin Church. The council’s intentions didn’t succeed though, as now there were three popes, one in Rome, one in Avignon and one in Pisa at the same time.
Famous sons of the city are Galileo Galilei, after whom the airport of Pisa was named, and Fibonacci (Leonardo of Pisa) one of the most important mathematicians of the Medieval Times.
Oddities
Keith Haring (1958 - 1990) is a young, American artist that is internationally known for his „Subway Drawings“. The back wall of the church Sant’Antonio was entirely painted by him in the year 1989. The painting with the name „Tuttomondo“ (the entire world) is his biggest one throughout Europe.
Economy
The economy of the province of Pisa is dominated by the shoe-, chemical- and pharmaceutical industry. Yet also the tourism, wine and olive cultivation, as well as the service sector play an important role for the province’s economy.
Climate of Pisa, Tuscany
The best season of the year to visit Pisa is the late summer or early fall. The mild climate allows you to enjoy the beauty of the coastline until the beginning of October, and in early fall the smooth hills light up in fascinating nuances.
Arrival
Car
Pisa has two highway exits at the highway A11 that leads from Genoa to Livorno. Pisa Nord and Pisa Centro-Aeroporto. The latter leads visitors right to the historic center of the city.
Airport Pisa (Aeroporto Galileo Galilei or San Giusto)
This airport, which is the most important one in Tuscany (also for the capital Florence) connects Pisa with all big Italian cities and the most important cities in Western Europe. It is located about two kilometers south of Pisa and is connected to the center with trains (every 20 min., travel time: 5 min.), buses (every 30 min., travel time to Piazza die Miracoli about 10 min.) and taxis.
Pisa has three train stations, Pisa Centrale, Pisa Aeroporto and Pisa San Rossore. Pisa Centrale is the main train station, where all important, mostly regular connections to the most prominent cities like Rome, Genoa, Turin, Naples, Livorno, Grosseto and Florence depart. Pisa Aeroporto is the station at the airport. Pisa San Rossore – near the Leaning Tower- connects Pisa with Lucca and Pistoia.
Local public transportation
The bus network of Pisa connects the entire urban area. The tickets can be bought at the bus counters at the airport, at the bus terminals or in tobacco shops. The public transportation in Pisa is organized by the “Compagnia Pisana Trasporti" (CPT), and the busses to other Italian cities depart at the Piazza Sant'Antonio. “Terravision" offers an express bus from the airport of Pisa to the train station “Santa Maria Novella" in Florence.
Those who want to rent a bike will be helped here:
Centro Visite
S. Rossore Estate
Tel: 0039 - (0)50 - 533755
Eco-rent
Via Tosco Romagnola 1321
San Casciano
Tel: 0039 - (0)50 - 777461
Pisa Scooter & Bike Rental
Via Santa Maria, 129
56126 Pisa
Tel: 0039 - (0)50 - 555453
Fax: 0039 - (0)50 – 556145
