Tourists, once in Pisa, immediately rush to the Square of Miracles, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, in order to see the Leaning Tower and take a standard photo as a keepsake. Of course, Miracles Square deserves close attention, but the city is not a single tower! And Pisa is the hometown of the astronomer, physicist and mathematician Galileo Galilei.
We and the Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendente di Pisa)
Located on the banks of the Arno River, not far from its confluence with the Ligurian Sea, Pisa holds invaluable masterpieces of painting and architecture, sculpture. The monuments of the city, its buildings and museums still testify to the former power and glory of the times of the maritime republic, when Pisa was considered the mistress of the Mediterranean.
The history of pisa
The exact time of the founding of the first settlement on the site of modern Pisa is unknown to historians. Some sources mention the 9th century, while others - the 13th century BC. It is not reliably established which people first settled in Pisa - Greeks, Ligurs or Etruscans. It is known that the Romans occupied the city in 180 BC.
Pisa (Pisa) has long been a rich independent state, a seaport. In the XV century, it fell under the rule of Florence and lost its former greatness. The city regained its fame in the 20th century when it became a world-class tourist center.
Pisa - the city of the "falling" towers
The bell tower of the church of St. Nicholas (Chiesa di San Nicola)
What attracts guests from all over the planet to Pisa? Of course, the famous tower of the Cathedral. The leaning bell tower of Pisa has been replicated in millions of guides and postcards; the ancient steps of her spiral staircase are jagged by the feet of hundreds of thousands of tourists.
Belfry of the Church of St. Michael the Barefoot Archangel (Chiesa di San Michele degli Scalzi)
There is more than one falling tower in Pisa. The octagonal bell tower of the church of St. Nicholas (Chiesa di San Nicola) also slightly deviated from the vertical axis. In Piaje Park, there is a third example of “non-linear” Pisa architecture - the bell tower of the church of St. Michael the Barefoot (Chiesa di San Michele degli Scalzi).
Sights
Pisa Cathedral
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Baptistery of St. John
Campo Santo Cemetery
Sinopiy Museum
Museum of the Duomo
Santa Maria Tower
National Museum of San Matteo
Church of Our Lady of Shipa
Church of St. Paul at the cliff
Church of St. Stephen
Church of St. Francis
Church of st. Catherine of Alexandria
Palace of Agostini
Gambacorti Palace
Karowan Palace
Medici Palace
Royal Palace
University of Pisa
The city stands on the banks of Arno. The river is full of water in autumn and winter, by the summer it becomes shallow. Sometimes Arno overflows, so high promenades were built in Pisa. Along the bends of the river lined the bright facades of the old palazzo.
Santa Maria Quarter
Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta)
The heart of the city is Miracles Square or Piazza dei Miracoli. Here is the Cathedral of Pisa or the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta). It also includes the leaning tower (Torre pendente di Pisa) and the Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni). The architectural ensemble of Miracles Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Me, Baptistery and Campo Santo Cemetery
On the north side of the Piazza dei Miracoli is the monumental Campo Santo cemetery. The Piazza dei Miracoli ensemble was finally formed in the XIX century, when Alessandro Gerardeschi restored the main architectural monuments. The appearance of this magically beautiful place has been created for centuries; brilliant architects from different times contributed. Some of the artifacts, the synopies of the frescoes of Italian masters, which previously covered the walls of Camposanto, are now exhibited in the Museum of Sinopii (Museo delle sinopie) - in the medieval Canon Palace, located on the south side of the square.
Cathedral and Leaning Tower of Pisa
In addition to the Square of Miracles in the left-bank quarter of Santa Maria (Quartiere di San Martino) are the University of Pisa (Università di Pisa) and the Square of the Knights (Piazza dei Cavalieri), built on the site of the Roman Forum. The masterpieces of the architect Vasari stand on the square: the Palazzo della Carovana palace with magnificent sgraffito facade painting and the Chiesa di Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri church, which holds naval trophies.
On the Piazza dei Miracoli
Also Piazza dei Miracoli
Famous wolf in the square
San Francesco Quarter
Museum of San Matteo
The decoration of the San Francesco quarter is considered to be the Romanesque-Gothic church of San Michele (Chiesa di San Michele degli Scalzi) with an original marble facade of the XIV century. Here is the Museum of San Matteo (Museo Nazionale di San Matteo), which has a rich collection of artworks, opened in the building of the monastery of St. Matthew.
San Antonio Quarter
Church of Our Lady of Shipa, photo by Xavier de Jauréguiberry
In the quarter of San Antonio are the old Cathedral and the Gothic pearl - the most beautiful church of Our Lady of Shipa (Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina).
On the streets of Pisa
Pisa is interesting not only for museums and masterpieces of "ceremonial" architecture. Near the majestic temples, along with the bustling tourist bustle of the squares, the life of the indigenous citizens is flowing. Small markets are trading on cozy streets; young people are walking along historic quays. There are many students here: the entire population of Pisa is less than 100 thousand inhabitants; the number of students at the University of Pisa reaches 60 thousand.
On the beach
Kitchen
In the evening, the city lights the lights of restaurants and bars. Pisa is called the "paradise of gourmets and wine connoisseurs." Here traditional Tuscan food is cooked expertly: Florentine steaks, Siena pasta-pichchi, bread salad, fish dishes.
Festivals and Holidays
Luminara Festival, photo by Simone Seymons
The main city event - the summer festival Luminara, dedicated to the patron saint of the city - St. Rannieri. On a festive evening along the embankments, all the lights are turned off and tens of thousands of candles are lit. In June, the costume festival Gioco del Ponte takes place with a parade and reconstruction of the historic battle.
