Best Travel Guide Pisa | ArrivalGuides.com

PisaGuide was updated: 2025-07-08

Pisa is strategically located in the central part of Italy, at only 12 km from the Ligurian Sea, 20 km from the harbour of Livorno and the ferries heading to the Elba Island, Sardinia and Corsica, and 80 km from Florence. This city is most known for its leaning tower, but it also preserves Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its medieval centre, numerous masterpieces of architecture and medieval history. The area around Pisa is also excellent for farm holidays, trekking, beaches and water sports on the Versilian coast.

Do & See

The boat service in Pisa will let you enjoy the architectural scenery of the Lungarni, or the natural beauty of the nearby San Rossore Natural Park, in which several important races and dressage competitions take place. Pisa celebrates traditional events such as the fascinating Luminara, a candlelight festival, the historical Regata, a boat race on the Arno river, and the Gioco del Ponte, an ancient contest on the Ponte di Mezzo. All three are held annually in June. An alternative could be a festival of international sacred music called Anima Mundi. It takes place between September and October in the Cathedral and Monumental Cemetery.

Pisa Cathedral & Baptistery of St John

Pisa Baptistery, Battistero di San Giovanni, shares grounds with Pisa Duomo, where the Leaning Tower is located. It took more than two centuries to complete. This amazing marble Baptistery is the largest one in the whole of Italy, and dates back to the 12th century. Pay your visit in the early morning to experience the amazing acoustics without the hum of the crowd. The Cathedral is an incredible work of art with more than a thousand years of history, and its design influenced many other buildings in the whole country.

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Via Aurelia

Via Aurelia, constructed in approximately 241 BC, played an important role in times of the ancient Roman Empire, to connect the cities of Pisa and Rome, and to enable trouble-free and efficient movement of defensive forces and goods between them. Today, the drive along the coast might not be the fastest way anymore, owing to the often heavy traffic, but it for sure is one of the most beautiful rides in Italy. Today, the modern Strada Statale 1 ocupies the same route and is informally known as La Via Aurelia. Remains of several Roman bridges can still be found along the road, including the Cloaca di Porta San Clementino, Ponte del Diavolo, Primo Ponte, and the Secondo Ponte (the last three in Sta Marinella).

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The Leaning Tower of Pisa

One of the most outstanding architectural structures of medieval Europe, partly due to human error during construction, the Leaning Tower is today the most famous landmark of Pisa. Its construction began in 1173, and continued for over two centuries. This miscalculated eight-story building is over 55 metres high and leans at an angle of 3.99 degrees. Without any doubts, this popular tourist attraction is a must when visiting the city. Don’t forget your camera, since this is a perfect place to take some amusing photos.

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Botanical Garden & Museum

The Botanical Garden and Museum was established in 1544 as the first university botanical garden in Europe. The garden is divided into sections that contain the botanical school, gardens, ponds, greenhouses and various buildings. Major collections include herb gardens and arboreta, as well as the old botany institute of late 16th century, with a façade ornamented with sea-shells.

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Camposanto

The Italian word 'Camposanto' means Holy Yard — which is a synonym of cemetery. According to the legend, it contained soil which was seen as miraculous due to its origins in the Holy Land. You will find this peaceful place with amazing frescoes, mosaics and statues on the same site as the Leaning Tower, the UNESCO World Heritage site Piazza del Duomo di Pisa.

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Opera del Duomo Museum

The Museum of Opera del Duomo opened in 1986 to showcase the art and sculptures of Pisa. Today, its collection includes works which previously adorned the buildings in the Piazza dei Miracoli. After the big three: the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery, this is the fourth major landmark to fit into your time schedule. You will find this interesting museum behind the Leaning Tower.

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