Pisa, located on the western coast of Italy in Tuscany region, is historically one of the most influential and famous cities of Italy. It is widely known for its iconic Leaning Tower, though this legendary city has much more to offer which includes more than 20 historic churches, several medieval palaces, Europe’s oldest university botanical garden . With proper planning, it is easy to explore this tiny city on foot and cover all major attractions in one day.
It is reccomended to start your journey from Piazza dei Miracoli. Reach the place around 9.00. If you start early you can avoid crowd and it will provide you plenty of time to see almost everything.
Let’s start exploring Pisa
1. Piazza Dei Miracoli (The square of Miracle) 9:00- 9.30
Duration: 30 minutes
As you approach the square, you will see a large open space with three most visited monumentals of Pisa – the Baptistery, Pisa Cathedral & its Leaning Tower, and the Monumental Cemetery, surrounded by green grass lawn. After arriving the square, take time to admire the whole complex from afar. The structures of the square symbolically represent three main stages of human life: Birth (the baptistery), Life (the cathedral), and Death (the cemetery). The square is widely recognized as an example of European medieval art and one of the most exceptional architectural complexes in the world.
The Square, formally known as Piazza del Duomo or Cathedral Square, got its current name after the famous Italian writer Gabriele d’Annunzio described the square as the “prato dei Miracoli, which means “meadow of miracles”. The square has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
2. Pisa Baptistery (circular dome) 9:30-10.00
0 minute from previous destination
Duration: 30 minutes
Lets start the journey with the Baptistery and follow the metaphorical journey that the structures represent. Pisa Baptistery is the largest Baptistery in Italy, with stunning art on the main door and the pulpit, made by Sculptor Nicola Pisano, founder of modern sculpture. This white marble baptistery was founded in 1152 and is a perfect example of the transition from Romanesque architecture to the Gothic artitecture style. Due to the construction on the same unstable soil as the tower, it is also slightly tilted. Incredible acoustics of Pisa Baptistery is very popular. It can be heard every half an hour from the Upper Gallery.
3. Pisa Cathedral (Cattedrale Pisa) 10.00-10:30
1 minute from previous destination
Duration: 30 minutes
After the Baptistery, make your way to the Pisa Cathedral. This medieval Roman Catholic cathedral is devoted to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Cathedral, also known as Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta, was designed with strong Byzantine influences and boasts fascinating Pisan Romanesque architecture. The construction of the cathedral started in 1063 but it was consecrated in 1118. The massive cathedral is the 4th-largest Gothic structure in the world and recognized as a prime example of Romanesque architecture. Some of the cathedral’s standout features are the decorative pink, white, and green marble patterns adorning the exterior, the magnificent mosaic floor inside, the masterful pulpit, made by Giovanni Pisano, and the gorgeous white-and-grey marble façade. If you are enthusiastic you can climb the 463 steps to reach the top of the Brunelleschi cupola and enjoy the spectacular view of the city from above. It’s free to visit the cathedral if you have ticket for any of the other buildings of the complex (Leaning Tower or Baptistery and Camposanto). If you don’t have such a ticket, you can collect a free ticket from the ticket office (behind the Pisa tower). Remember, the free tickets are limited in number and available exclusively from the ticket office on-site.
4. Leaning Tower of Pisa (10.30-11.30)
0 minutes from previous destination
Duration:1 hour
The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is a popular attraction among tourists. It is considered a part of the Cathedral as it is in fact the cathedral’s bell tower. You can climb to the top of the Leaning Tower for a unique experience. In addition, it offers an amazing view of the neighbourhood from top. But it requires considerable physical effort because for many, the sense of imbalance that comes from climbing its 300 spiral stairs of a seriously tilting edifice is challenging. To climb the tower you need a separate ticket. Book your ticket beforehand to save time. Remember any luggage (even the handbags) must be deposited at the cloakroom before the visit. For safety reasons, children under 8 years old are not allowed to climb up the Leaning Tower of Pisa
5. Campo Santo ( cemetery) 11.30-12.00
1 minute from previous destination
Duration: 30 minutes
Campo Santo Monumentale aka the monumental cemetery is one of the must visits in Pisa. It is also located in the same square of Miracle. The cemetery is built in 1277 to house all the graves around the cathedral. It is believed that the cemetery has been built on sacred soil from Golgotha. Thats why it is named Campo Santo which means ‘Holy Field’.
The sacred place is filled with many impressive medieval and Renaissance artworks. The cemetery features a huge collection of Roman sarcophagi, sculptures.
Lunch Break: 12:00 – 13:00
Italy has some of the most irresistible flavors in the world, and the food in Pisa has retained this reputation. You must taste Italian cuisine when you are in Pisa. There are lot of local restaurants near the square.
6. Piazza dei Cavalieri (medieval square) 13.10-14.10
7 minutes walk from previous destination
Duration: 1 hour
Piazza dei Cavalieri, the second main square of the city, once used to be the heart of the city. The square , also known as the Square of the seven streets (Piazza delle sette vie) was a place where everybody used to gather around to discuss political and everyday matters. Beautiful Palazzo della Carovana and the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri are located in this square. Cosimo I de’ Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, founded this beautiful square. The Order of the Knights of St. Stephen used the palace as headquarters to fight the pirates in Mediterranean Sea in the 16th century.
7. The Botanical Garden 14.15-15.15
5 minutes from previous destination
Duration: 1 hour
Located just 5 minutes walking distance from the Piazza dei Cavalieri, you’ll find the Orto Botanico or Botanical Garden of Pisa, a destination that brings a bit of nature into this artistic itinerary of Pisa. Originally this botanical garden of the University of Pisa is founded by famous botanist Luca Ghini in 1543 on the banks of the river Arno. It was the oldest botanical garden in the world before relocated in current location in 1591. Now it is the 5th oldest botanical garden in the world. The garden includes fountains, ponds, a library, greenhouses, herb gardens and one of the oldest iron-framed hothouses in Italy. You can give your tired legs a bit of rest in the garden.
8. Take a walk along the Arno River and snacks break: 15.25-16.20
Arno river is 7min from botanical garden
After visiting Botanical garden take a short walk to River Arno for a beautiful and tranquil experience. River Arno offers an incredibly stunning view of neighbourhood. A stroll along the Arno River will take you to an unforgettable backdrop of some iconic sights in Pisa. Take your time to pop into some of the charming cafes, or cool bars and enjoy a drink or snacks with wonderful view of riverside neighbourhood.
9.Visit Church of Santa Maria della Spina and Palazzo Blu 16.25 -17.10
3 min from previous desination
Church of Santa Maria della Spina, originally a small oratory for seamen, is located on the left bank of the Arno. this small 14th-century church in a Pisan Gothic style, has one of the most outstanding Gothic structures in Europe. The church was recently restored after severe foundation damage and is open to the public.
After the church visit Palazzo Blu, a small ancient palace from the mid – 14th century. The palace is located on the banks of the Arno within 300 meter from the church. This adorable blue palace has been transformed into a museum which hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions regularly.
10. Stroll along the Corso Italia before returning if you have still time (17.20 -
After visiting all top attraction in Pisa if you still have little time you can stroll along the main shopping street, Corso Italia, It is one of the vibrant street of Pisa.
How to get to Pisa:
Train is the best option to get to Pisa from surrounding towns. Pisa Centrale is the main railway station of the city which is connected with several other important Italian cities such as Rome, Florence, Genoa, Turin, Naples, Livorno and Grosseto. Pisa local bus service operates along popular routes. Individual tickets are very affordable and can be bought from news stands , ticket offices or even from bus.
You can also drive to Pisa, of course, but prepare for facing a bit of difficulty in finding free parking near the Square of Miracles.
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