Pisa holidays
There’s far more to the Tuscan university city of Pisa than the Leaning Tower for which it is famed. An architectural treasure trove that hosts almost as many historic buildings as its neighbour Florence, Pisa shows its pride for its most famous son Galileo, plus it’s also a great place to sample some fine Tuscan wines.
See this charming city from all angles
Once you’ve taken that obligatory selfie of the tower, explore the rest of the aptly named Square of Miracles, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a moment to admire the impressive Romanesque facade of Pisa Cathedral, which predates the tower, before checking out the beautiful marble Baptistery, the tallest in Italy.
Take a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Arno River, which connects Pisa and Tuscany with the sea, crossing on the Ponte di Mezzo bridge for a decent vantage point. Along the river you’ll spy the Gothic church of Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina, which supposedly once held a thorn from Jesus’ crown of thorns.
Then saunter along to the Piazza dei Cavalieri, the square housing the main edifice of the University of Pisa, which dates back to the 16th Century, alongside several grand buildings. Another church near the station worth checking out is the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate, whose side wall is adorned with a striking mural called Tuttomundo by American artist Keith Haring.
Take a stroll along the Corso Italia. This old Roman road is now a key shopping hub and is also home to the Logge dei Banchi, an imposing 17th Century building that still hosts various markets. Book your flights to Pisa today and start exploring.
Carefully selected Pisa hotels
Best hotels in Pisa for all types of traveller
Are you looking for cheap holidays in Pisa? Look no further than the Alessandro Della Spina. This budget hotel with an enviable central location offers rooms with solid wooden furnishings and authentic paintings which should appeal to culture lovers.
For Pisa city breaks check out the NH Pisa, a modern hotel in the city centre, 20 minutes’ walk from the Piazza dei Miracoli. For the best views of the train station and cobbled streets below ask for a room on the 5th floor with your own private terrace. Indulge at the extensive buffet breakfast packed with fresh produce and local specialties.
Pisa holiday FAQs
- The National Museum of San Matteo houses a cluster of medieval masterpieces in a 13th Century Benedictine monastery on the northern bank of the Arno River. Many artists of the Tuscan school feature, including the likes of Lippo Memmi, Taddeo Gaddi, Gentile da Fabriano and Ghirlandaio. There’s also a fine collection of Pisan statues and sculptures from the 14th and 15th Centuries including pieces by Andrea and Nino Pisano, Francesco di Valdambrino, Donatello, Michelozzo and Andrea della Robbia.
- Once you have exhausted the sights of Pisa, consider a day trip to the charming town of Lucca. One of its must-see buildings is the Cathedral of San Martino. The largely Romanesque cathedral was built in the 11th Century in the Lucca-Pisan style. Look out for the Pisano reliefs on the doors, the Volto Santo crucifix sculpture and the stunning sacristy with its 15th Century tomb.
- The Baths of Nero is an important archaeological site in Pisa. These remains of a Roman baths complex date from the 1st Century AD and have been renovated multiple times since. Look out for the best-preserved parts such as the laconicum, a space for hot air baths. Other notable sections still visible include the gymnasium, apodyterium (changing room) and the tepidarium (warm room).
- Pisa’s Duomo on the Piazza dei Miracoli is an imposing building dating back to the 11th Century when it was Europe’s largest cathedral. The cathedral’s exterior has four tiers of columns, while inside you can marvel at the wooden ceiling decorated with 24-carat gold. Take a moment to study the magnificent bronze doors adorned with elaborate biblical scenes and the 14th Century octagonal pulpit in the north aisle sculpted from marble by Giovanni Pisano.
- Palazzo Blu is a 14th Century building with a striking blue facade and an interesting history. It now houses the Pisa Foundation’s art collection surrounded by extravagantly decorated 19th Century interiors. These include everything from space exploration to Dante’s Inferno. Your ticket also grants you access to the basement’s archaeological display and the main residence rooms on the first floor which are authentically decorated to the 19th Century era.
- Once you have scaled the Leaning Tower, try looking at Pisa from an alternative lofty perspective and walk on top of Pisa’s medieval city walls. The walls were constructed in the 12th Century and remain largely intact today. You can access them via staircases in the round Tower of Santa Maria or through the Tower of Legno on the east side of the Arno.
- When it comes to luxury holidays in Pisa you’ll be well catered for at Castelfalfi, a luxury hotel surrounded by stunning Tuscan scenery. It’s the largest five-star hotel in the Tuscan countryside and you can dine in style at the gourmet restaurant La Rocca located inside the 800-year-old castle. Castelfalfi’s many alluring features include a 27-hole golf course, spa, vineyard, adventure park and cooking classes.
- Bagni di Pisa is a traditional hotel just outside of Pisa in the town of San Guiliano with an affiliation with the Leading Hotels of the World. It features a spa with thermal pools built on a series of hot springs, opulent rooms and public spaces with extravagant interiors.
- The Sense Experience Resort is a prime beach resort in the seaside town of Follonica, recommended in the Michelin Guide, with a strong focus on nature. Superior rooms on the ground floor all feature little private gardens you can enjoy.
- Grotta Giusti offers a superlative wellness destination set in a 19th Century villa complete with frescoed ceilings and paintings. This five-star hotel offers a spa in Europe’s largest natural thermal cave and 40 acres of gardens.
- Castello di Casole is a small, boutique luxury hotel set amid Tuscan countryside outside Siena. The hotel features charming timber-ceiling rooms with original stone floors, an inviting spa and yoga on the terrace – all amid a 4,000-acre estate accessed by a private road surrounded by hills, villages, olive groves and vineyards.
- Sina Astor is a vibrant, modern hotel in the upscale beach resort of Viareggio. Its restaurant La Conchiglia is renowned as one of the best in the area famed for its fresh produce and skilful culinary techniques, while the Sina Wellness Club spa features a rooftop solarium.
- Ilaria & Residenza Dell'Alba is set in the charming walled town of Lucca, just outside of Pisa. Its central location means it’s within easy walking distance of restaurants, shops and attractions, including the cathedral, amphitheatre, towers and basilica.
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