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Place to visit in Pisa
Reception staff is at your desposal in suggesting places to visit and if you are interested in reserving a tourist guide for detailed information on places you would like to visit, you can ask the staff to contact the Grifo Tour Group (Equipe of professional individual tourist guides). Any information about the local tourist office can be provided by the website "Agenzia per il Turismo di Pisa".Pisa, in the past a maritime power together with Genoa and Venice, nowadays owes its popularity for an architectural splendour: the Leaning Tower. Gegraphically positioned on a floodplane close to the tirrenian coast, with 92000 inhabitants, Pisa is spread out on the two Arno riversides. The city has kept a rich artistic heritage, a mixture of medieval, islamic, Lomberd and local influences. Piazza dei Miracoli - Piazza del Duomo
The Duomo Square, also called Piazza dei Miracoli, represents Pisa historical centre, thanks to the beautiful buildings that arise on it.The square is the symbol of the maritime power conquered during the middle age. The architectural style of the monumental buildings is romanic. Since the Etrurian age, Piazza Dei Miracoli was considered the religious centre of the city. Santa Maria Maggiore's Cathedral and its Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Monumental Cimitery were built on this square in order to represent the cycle of Human Life: the birth (baptistery), life ( Duomo) and the death ( cemetery). Bell tower or leaning tower  The leaning Tower is one of the most famous monuments in the world due to its extraordinary inclination reaching today 5 m. It is 56 m. high and sinking at the base 2.5m. The great concern for experts and technicians is the fact that the tower leans 1mm extra each year. Diotisalvi was who started to build the tower. It happened in 1173 but only 12 years later (in 1185) he had to stop because of the sinking of the earth. A century later, in 1275, Giovanni Di Simone tried to proceed with the tower construction, but he was obliged to stop too because of the inclination. During the second half of 1300, Tommaso Pisano built the 7th and last ring created for the big bell. After a long period of closure, today it is possible to reach the top of the tower again. BAPTISTERY  As for the tower, the Baptistery too, was started by Diotisalvi in 1152. The church was completed after 2 centuries and it gives home to the major creation of Nicola Pisano, pulpit. CATHEDRAL The cathedral was built on the ruins of a preexisting church in 1063. Faboulous paintings, marble and bronze sculptures enrich the whole church. In particular you can admire the beautiful mosaic of the XIII century whose studies state that Cimabue could be the author. The architectural aspect of the Cathedral was modified several times even if the natural characteristcs were never changed. MONUMENTAL CEMETERY As the Church, the cemetery too was built on a preexisting cemetery. Works started in 1278. It was positioned on the left side of the Cathedral. Many sarcophagus belonging from the Roman Age are present. It was heavely damaged consequently to the 1943 bomb attacks. MUSEO DELLE SINOPIEThe so called Sinopie were simply the preparatory pictures created by the artists before painting a wall. They were the preparatory painting of the cemetery that are no longer present because attacks during the 2nd world war.This Museum has been built recently to preserve the existing Sinopie. PIAZZA DEI CAVALIERI
This round square represented in middle age the political and the civil centre of Pisa.Today its importance is due to the famous Scuola Normale Superiore, one of the most prestigious university centres. On one side of the Scuola Normale Superiore arises Conte Ugolino Tower ( ndr. Dante's Divina Commedia), opposite instead is the church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. CHURCH OF SANTO STEFANO DEI CAVALIERISanto Stefano dei Cavalieri was started in 1565 by Vasari and in XVII century it was enlarged with two lateral aisles.Inside the church are the historical flags taken from the enemies ships during the battles from XVI to XVIII century in the Mediterranean Sea. CHIESA DELLA SPINASanta Maria della Spina is one of the clearest expressions of Gothic constructions.It is named "della spina" because a thorn from the Jesus Christ's Crown was preserved inside the building. Started in XIII century as an oratory it was destroyed during the flood of the Arno and it was rebuilt in the XIV century in larger scale. Most of the main artists of that age offered important works to this beautiful church. This great monument was completely de-assembled and re-assembled on an upper level in 1871. CHURCH OF SAN MICHELE IN BORGOBuilt between the X and the XI century and enlarged in the XII century, this church shows in its facade unusual writing with reference to the election in the XVI century of the university's Chancellor. One of the main monuments inside the church is the holy Cross by Nicola Pisano.REGIONAL PARK OF MIGLIARINO- SAN ROSSORE- MASSACIUCCOLIThe Natural Park of Migliarino includes the coastal area from Viareggio to Livorno with a 23000 (hectares) surface. Part of this park includes small villages like Vecchiano, San Giuliano Terme, Massarosa and Viareggio.San Rossore (Pisa), represents the centre of the Park. Its flora and fauna are very interesting to visit by walking in the park or riding a bike or on the back of a horse. LUNGARNI (Arno Riversides)Pisa is known also for its picturesque long Riversides. Between the XV and the XIX century the lovely landscape of the Riversides were described in many works of poets and painters.BOTANIC GARDENThe university botanic garden in Pisa is the most ancient in the world. Started in 1544, it was moved to different places and established definitely nearby Piazza dei Miracoli. |
