Pisa

Pisa is much more than the renowned leaning Tower and deserves a visit that lasts much longer than the unmissable pause at the beautiful Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO heritage site.

Pisa, an old Marine Republic, is a city born and raised along the axis of the Arno. The view that the inlets grant of the Lungarni and the buildings overlooking the river, always spectacular and ever changing, can be admired from the five bridges that cross the Arno or by river boat. Byron, Shelley, Montesquieu, Leopardi, Carducci, D’Annunzio, Foscolo, among others, have written of the Lungarni of Pisa.

Pisa is the city of Galileo Galilei, who gave his name to the most important  International Airport, and whose fourth centennial since his first astronomical observations was celebrated in 2009.

Pisa flows to the sea and has a coastline enclosed by the Natural Regional Park Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli. A few kilometres along the coast, Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia and Calambrone offer the visitor three different types of seaside options.

The historical centre of Pisa is divided into north and south by the river Arno.

In the month of June the four quarters of this historical centre revive their traditions in the Gioco del Ponte (Battle of the Bridge), one of the most important historical displays of the city, to celebrate the festival of the patron saint of Pisa, San Ranieri. At dusk on the 16 June, for the whole night, the Lungarni of Pisa turn out their lights and place candles in the window frames of the buildings that overlook the Lungarni: it is the magical atmosphere of the Luminara, the Illuminations.

The quarters of the historical centre of Pisa maintain their Medieval identities; just walking through the side streets and alleys of the north-south Corso Italia – Borgo Stretto axis and crossing the street opens the door on quaint corners and town squares, beautiful old churches and eateries serving typical Tuscan cuisine.

Pisa is a city of learning, research and universities with national and international class institutes: the Scuola Normale Superiore, in the atmospheric Piazza dei Cavalieri and the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, in the beautiful Piazza dei Martiri della Libertà, the National Research Council (CNR).

Pisa is an excellent hospital, it is leisure sailing, it is biomedical, it is pharmaceutical. In the coming years it will once again be a Port, as the tourist port works commence. In recent years, the city has been at the centre of important requalification works, such as the transfer of the Hospital to the eastern district of the city, the subsequent programmed restoration of the Hospital zone adjacent to Piazza dei Miracoli, the walkway above the wall, the Museum of Roman Ships.

Visitors to Pisa have the opportunity to take in a “people friendly” city, to live “slowly”, as is the case of the great number of young people who love to find themselves sitting on the “parapet” of the Arno, especially in the beautiful season.