OVERVIEW
Straddling the River Arno, Pisa is a city in the central region of Tuscany.
LANDMARKS
Pisa is undoubtedly renowned for its famed leaning tower, which is the freestanding bell tower of the Cathedral that is defined by its unintended side tilt.
Other popular cultural institutions include the University of Pisa, the Knights’ Square, a multitude of churches (like the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri and the Church of San Frediano), the Borgo Stretto (a medieval neighborhood), and the Palazzo Reale, the royal palace that once belonged to the Caetani family.
ASTORIA
ART
Pisa houses a variety of museums and art galleries. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo exhibits original sculptures by renowned artists while the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo focuses on works from the 12th to 15th centuries. If interested in the very objects and belongings of the family that once resided in the Royal Palace, visit the Palazzo Reale. More modern art is housed in the Palazzo Blu, which is found in the heart of Lungarno, the city’s old town.
TRANSPORTATION
Just a one-hour drive from Florence, Pisa itself can be traveled by foot or via taxi.