• Inside Palazzo Blu
    Provided by: Herbert Frank/cc by 2.0/Flickr

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Pisa Cathedral & Baptistery of St John

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 thousands years of history, and its design influenced many other buildings in the whole country.
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Via Aurelia (Aurelia Street to Rome)

Via Aurelia (Aurelia Street to Rome)

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

The Leaning Tower

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. It is the bell tower of the Cathedral whose 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 the camera, since this is a perfect place to take some amusing photos.
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National Museum of the Royal Palace

National Museum of the Royal Palace

The Royal Palace was built, as commanded by the House of Medici, in the late 16th century, and became the National Museum in 1989. Today, it hosts numerous paintings, sculpture, tapestries and decorative art pieces that belong to the courts of the city government, such as the Medici, Lorena and Savoia, as well as some private collections. The building still has the appearance of an aristocratic residence, with fittings and furniture from the 17th to 19th centuries.
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Santa Maria della Spina

Santa Maria della Spina

The rather small Santa Maria della Spina church, erected around 1230 and later enlarged in 1325, has one of the most outstanding Gothic edifices in Europe. Its riverside location adds to the iconic status, making it one of the most photographed structures in the city. You can find it on the left bank of the River Arno, opposite the National Museum of Pisa. The name of della Spina ("of the thorn") comes from the presence of a thorn, recognised as a part of the crown of thorns placed on Christ. The relic was brought to this church in 1333.
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National Museum of San Matteo

National Museum of San Matteo

Housed in a 13th century building that was once a Benedictine monastery, the National Museum of San Matteo contains works from the main religious buildings of the city. The 14th and 15th century collections are remarkable: the Pisan sculpture and a collection of paintings consisting of nearly 200 works from the Tuscan school. The picture gallery keeps paintings by Italian and foreign artists dating back as far as the 18th century, ecclesiastical vestments and liturgical gold-works.
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San Rossore Natural Park & Estate

San Rossore Natural Park & Estate

The picturesque regional park covers over 23,000 hectares along the coast from Viareggio to Livorno. The grounds feature estates and historic buildings, forested walking trails. You will come across organic farms, apiaries and dairies, an archeological area, the Navicelli canal and multiple natural reserves with distinct natural environments. Of course, there is a beach area to swim and cool down after a hike. You can find handy booklets and brochures at the Visitor Centre of Cascine Vecchie. The official website has an exhaustive list of attraction and their opening hours, plus a list of official guides.
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Museum of Human Anatomy

Museum of Human Anatomy

Travellers who enjoy going slightly off the beaten track should not miss the Museum of Human Anatomy in Pisa. First opened in 1832, the museum collected thousands of pieces of highly accurate anatomical models made for educational-scientific purposes. Certainly an unusual and macabre attraction. A section of the museum is dedicated to anatomical paintings by Giovanni Paolo Mascagni, who was famed for his mind-blowingly intricate and accurate colour illustrations. Another section contains archaeological finds, such as funerary objects from pre-Columbian civilisations, with fabrics, vases and various utensils, mummies and sarcophagi.
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