Discover Pisa: Medieval Art and Coastal Landscapes

Pisa between piazzas, urban history and nature

Pisa combines medieval architecture with museums, markets and protected coastal landscapes. Piazza del Duomo comprises four masterpieces of medieval architecture: the cathedral, the baptistery, the bell tower and the Campo Santo cemetery. In December 1987, Piazza del Duomo in Pisa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

To help visitors find their way around Pisa, the tourist information system includes interactive maps, QR codes and four themed walking tours. The medieval walls of Pisa were originally around 7 kilometres long, had towers spaced 300 metres apart and approximately 20 gates.

Art, collections and maritime history

The Campo Santo preserves fresco cycles depicting the Triumph of Death, the Last Judgment and the stories of the holy hermits. The Museo Nazionale di San Matteo houses illuminated manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as a stone sculpture collection with works from the Middle Ages through the 16th century. Palazzo Blu is home to a centre for cultural activities and exhibitions created by Fondazione Pisa.

The collection of the Museo delle Navi Antiche di Pisa conveys a history of trade, sailors, shipping routes, life on board and shipwrecks. In connection with this museum, around 30 ships from Roman times were recovered during an excavation completed in 2016.

In the vicinity of Pisa are the Museo della Grafica and the Gipsoteca di Arte Antica dell'Università di Pisa, both museums. Also nearby are Palazzo Gambacorti, a palace, and the Domus Mazziniana, a museum. The Logge dei Banchi and the Porta del Leone are natural arches in the vicinity of Pisa.

Botanical garden and protected landscapes

The Orto Botanico, a garden in the vicinity of Pisa, is divided historically into seven sections. Each section contains one or more scientifically organised plant collections. Around 3,000 plants are cultivated across approximately two hectares. The Orto e Museo Botanico offers guided tours for private visitors.

The Parco di Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli is a protected natural area with beaches, Mediterranean scrub, forests of maritime pines, holm oaks and poplars, as well as wetlands. The Tenuta di San Rossore can be explored on foot, by bicycle and on horseback. Along the coast, the WWF Dune di Tirrenia oasis also extends across 24 hectares; it is open all year round.

Monte Cascetto is located in the vicinity of Pisa and is a mountain.

Markets and an annual city game

An organic farmers' market takes place in Piazza Cairoli on the fourth Saturday of every month. The Gioco del Ponte takes place in Pisa every year on the last Saturday in June. During the event, twelve teams push a heavy cart on rails that stands in the middle of Ponte di Mezzo on the Lungarni.

For travel connections, the PisaMover links Pisa Centrale railway station with Pisa-San Giusto Galileo Galilei Airport in less than three minutes.

Further places for travel planning

For further orientation, you can find the following here: Bientina, Capannoli, Casciana Terme, Lari, Montecatini Val Di Cecina, Montopoli In Val D'Arno, Casale Marittimo, Fauglia, Monteverdi Marittimo, Riparbella, Guardistallo, Lorenzana, Buti, Calci, Pisa, Santa Luce, Orciano Pisano, Palaia, Peccioli, Pomarance, Pontedera, San Miniato, Santa Maria A Monte, Terricciola, Usigliano, Vicopisano, Calcinaia, Vecchiano, Ponsacco, Montescudaio, Volterra, Cascina, Castelfranco Di Sotto, Orentano, Santa Croce Sull'Arno, Crespina, Lajatico, Castelnuovo Di Val Di Cecina, Chianni, Uliveto Terme, Miemo, Coltano Radio, Molino d'Egola, Orciatico, Cenaia, Sasso Pisano, Calci, Castel del Bosco, Casciana Alta, Navacchio, Santa Colomba, Ponte A Elsa, Boschi, Le Colombaie, Morrona, Garetto Basso, Casino di Terra, San Giuliano Terme, Castellina Marittima, Ponte a Egola, Luciana, Staffoli.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tuscany.