HISTORY: In the 5th century BC, Pisa was, probably, an Etruscan settlement. The village grew rapidly in the Roman era, as a coastal town and an important port on the Ligurian Sea. In the Early Middle Ages, Pisa was one of the four Maritime Republics, the other three being Venice, Genoa and Amalfi, fighting each other for control over the Mediterranean Sea. Read More [...]
In the 15th century, after a period of decline, Pisa was placed under the rule of Florence, where it remained until the creation of the Italian State, in 1861. From the 18th century, the city began to grow again, especially due to its University, which is one of the most prestigious in Italy and in Europe.
GEOGRAPHY: Located in the northwest corner of Tuscany, Pisa is divided in two by the Arno River, the same river which passes through Florence. The city stands about 79 kilometers west of Florence, 24 kilometers southwest of Lucca, 105 kilometers northwest of Siena and about 150 kilometers northwest of Arezzo.
TRANSPORT: The city has its own airport, Pisa Galileo Galilei, the main airport of Tuscany, very close to the city center. From the airport, you can get to the Pisa Centrale railway station, located in the city center, using the Pisa Mover transport system. The trip takes about 5 minutes and a ticket costs 5€.
If you want to get to Pisa by train, you must know that the city has regular trains to and from Florence, Lucca, Rome or Genoa. From Florence, a ticket costs 8.70€ and the trip takes about one hour. From Lucca, the trip takes about 30 minutes and a ticket is 3.60€.
LANDMARKS: Best known for the world famous Leaning Tower, Pisa is not just about this. The whole Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), from which the tower is part of, is incredibly beautiful – the splendid Cathedral of Pisa (Duomo di Pisa), the Baptistery of Saint John (Battistero di San Giovanni), the Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto Monumentale) and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo are all in the same place, just a few meters from each other.
Besides these, the city hides many other architectural wonders, like the Knights' Square (Piazza dei Cavalieri), with the magnificent Palazzo della Carovana and the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, the small but beautiful Church of Santa Maria della Spina, and the Romanesque Church of San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno.
EVENTS: The main events of the city are gathered under the title of Giugno Pisano (Pisan June), the entire month of June being dedicated to traditional events, historical reenactments, concerts and exhibitions. Every year, during this month, Pisa celebrates Luminara di San Ranieri on June 16, Palio di San Ranieri on June 17, Gioco del Ponte on the last Saturday of June and, every 4 years, the Regatta of the Historical Maritime Republics.
MORE INFO: Touristic Portal | Pisa Airport | Car Hire | Train Timetables & Fares | Bus Timetables & Fares | Hotels in Pisa | Tours & Activities in Pisa