Pisa – much more than the Leaning Tower

BOOK HOTEL IN PISA THINGS TO DO IN TUSCANY

pisa

Undoubtedly, Pisa is best known as the home of the Leaning Tower, and when you visit this city in Tuscany, this is one landmark not to be missed.

Pisa is a relatively small city, population-wise, with around 85,000 residents living here year-round.

It is situated at the junction of two rivers, the Arno and the Serchio, just a short way inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea and it became an important port city.

The town reached its peak in power and wealth during the 11^th century, and it was during this time construction of some of the city’s most significant landmarks was commenced.

Destination

Check-in date

Thu 28 Sep 2023

Check-out date

Fri 29 Sep 2023

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How to get here

Pisa’s International Airport is the primary air gateway for the whole of Tuscany, so it’s well linked with the rest of Europe, making it easily accessible by air.

Several airlines fly here year-round, and seasonal flights supplement these.

Admittedly there is just one option if you’re flying from outside of Europe; Delta Air Lines has a direct flight to Pisa from New York JFK during the peak season.

If you’re flying from elsewhere, there are flights to Pisa from major cities like London, Rome, Amsterdam, and Paris, giving you many options for connections with airlines like British Airways, Alitalia, Air France, and EasyJet.

There is a railway station right at the airport, so travelling to other parts of Tuscany is convenient from here.

The airport is only just on the near outskirts of the city, so the journey into central Pisa is quick and affordable by bus, train, or taxi.

Over 100 Hotels

There are over 100 hotels to choose from, with the majority being three stars rated or below. If you prefer to stay in style, though, don’t worry, Pisa also has a couple of 5-star hotels and nine 4 star hotels.

Click here for an overview of all hotels.

Hotel Relais Dell’Orologio is a popular 5-star choice.

This is probably what you would imagine all hotels in Pisa to look like – old world charm with period furnishings yet the modern-day comforts such as air conditioning provided.

It’s set within a restored 14th-century mansion and is in a great location, just 200 metres from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The classic, standard double and single rooms are a bit small, so be sure to choose the room that suits you best.

Grand Hotel Duomo lives up to its name as a grand and inviting high-end hotel. It may be rated four stars, but it has a different charm to Hotel Relais Dell-Orologio.

This one was built in the 1960s and is only a 2-minute walk from the Leaning Tower and Duomo Square.

Weather and climate

Being close to the coast, Pisa does not get quite as hot as some parts of Tuscany – the winds from the sea help to cool the city by a few degrees, and this is usually a welcome break when sightseeing!

July and August see the warmest temperatures on average, with an average high of 29.5C both months.

June is a little more comfortable with an average high of 26C, and although September is pleasant heat-wise, it does get considerably wetter from September through to November.

Winters are cool and damp, so it is not a great time for sightseeing, but it becomes warm and drier from May.

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Festivals and events

If you’re planning a visit for June, you may want to coincide with two of the city’s festivals.

The Luminara Festival takes place on June 16 and is very beautiful, with more than 10,000 candles lit along the banks of the Arno, and the evening ends with a massive fireworks display.

Later in June (the last Sunday of the month) is the Game of Bridge in which the two sides of the city compete over the Ponte di Mezzo (the main bridge in Pisa) by trying to push each side off the bridge.

Attractions in Pisa

Yes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is by far the city’s best known and loved landmark, but if you thought this was all that Pisa had to offer, think again!

There are museums too, and not to mention the many restaurants where you can sample some of Tuscany’s excellent cuisine.

The city does have several other historical landmarks, including more than 20 historic churches, palaces and bridges. If you’re inclined to enjoy medieval Italian architecture, then you’re going to find several days are filled wandering around the city’s streets.

Leaning tower

The Leaning Tower

Let’s start with the Leaning Tower. It’s the landmark that everybody heads to first, wondering if it does lean as much as it appears to all the photos.

And the answer is ‘yes’! Right now, the tower is leaning by about 3.99 degrees.

This in itself is quite a lot for a building of this size and height, but it’s less than it has been in the past because of efforts to strengthen and straighten it.

Previous to recent restoration work, the angle was 5.5 degrees.

So, why the lean anyway? Well, this campanile – the cathedral’s bell tower – wasn’t supposed to lean.

The lean has always been there, though, appearing early on in the tower’s construction because the foundations were too soft to support its weight.

As the tower grew taller, the tilt got worse, but without the technology hundreds of years ago (it was built between 1173 and 1372), they could not perform the groundwork necessary to stop it from tilting.

Now work has been completed, and the tower should be stabilised to stop it from leaning any further.

There are nearly 300 steps to the top of the tower, and yes, you can climb them.

The novelty of climbing is quite an attraction, but the views from the top are well worth the climb too.

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Piazza del Duomo

The Leaning Tower is one of the four buildings on Pisa’s main square, named Piazza del Duomo, or Piazza dei Miracoli.

The whole square has been designated a World Heritage Site as it is recognised as one of the leading centres of medieval art globally, and the buildings, in addition to the Leaning Tower, include the Duomo (cathedral), the Baptistery, and the Camposanto.

The cathedral is at the heart of the square and was built in 1063. It’s a vast creation with beautiful floors and ceilings, artworks, and mosaics.

The Baptistery is the round building on the opposite side of the cathedral to the leaning tower and is the largest of its kind in Italy. Then there is the Camposanto, the ‘monumental cemetery’, claimed by many to be the most beautiful cemetery globally.