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Pisa, More than the Leaning Tower!

Gloria - Casina di Rosa

A tour through history, art, culture, good food and - ghosts!

When planning their holidays in Tuscany, many people budget only half a day in Pisa, as a daytrip from Florence or Lucca. They get on a train, arrive at Pisa Central Station, take a bus to the Campo dei Miracoli, have a quick look at the Leaning Tower, spend a few minutes browsing the many souvenir stalls, and get back on the bus and return to their hotel in Florence or Lucca. Other people decide to skip Pisa altogether, especially if they have very little time in Tuscany.

These rushing tourists are missing a great chance: the chance to visit and experience a very beautiful city which has much more to offer than the Leaning Tower; a city which has been penalized by the presence of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, ending up being just "the city with the Tower". During the last few years though, more and more people have discovered the beauty of the city and the value of being travelers and not tourists in Pisa.

Pisa is first of all a very lively University town with a long history, tracing back to the Italic peoples settlements. It is well worth a longer stay in town.

These pages give you a brief history of Pisa and tell you about the town today, with walking tours through the Mezzogiorno and the Tramontana and some practical tips for travelers. We hope these notes convince you to spend more time in Pisa - you won't regret it!

The History of Pisa: A brief history of Pisa from ancient times to today.

The Town of Pisa: An introduction to the town and its neighborhoods.

Corso Italia: The walking tour starts at the train station and then goes along the Corso Italia, the main shopping street in the Mezzogiorno neighborhood, south of the River Arno.

Sant'Antonio Quarter: The walking tour continues through the Sant'Antonio quarter in Mezzogiorno.

Santa Maria Quarter: The walking tour continues through the Santa Maria quarter in Tramontana, north of the River Arno.

San Francesco Quarter: The walking tour continues through the San Francesco quarter in Tramontana.

San Martino Quarter: The walking tour ends back in Mezzogiorno, on the south side of the River Arno, in the San Martino quarter.

Practical Information: Travel information and resources, how to get there, when to visit, public transportation, etc.

Google Map

Google Map: A detailed Google Map showing the walking routes and sights in Pisa.

Medici villas on the River Arno

Gloria lives in Pisa and runs two vacation rentals: Casina di Rosa, a house in a village in the Tuscan countryside south of Siena, and Behind the Tower, an apartment in Pisa.