Museums of Pisa. Overview of the sights of Pisa. Food. What to try

Sights of Pisa. The most important and interesting sights of Pisa - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

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    Duomo in Pisa

    Pisa, Piazza del Duomo

    The medieval Pisa Cathedral is the heart of the famous Field of Miracles (Cathedral Square). It is consecrated in honor of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, but no one remembers this when it comes to the Duomo. In terms of meaning, both the campanile bell tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni are secondary annexes.

    the most unesco

    Leaning Tower of Pisa

    At the dawn of the 12th century in the Italian city of Pisa, on its very outskirts, construction began on the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Ascension, and it would have been one of hundreds of other, undoubtedly beautiful, but little-known Italian cathedrals, if not for its world-famous bell tower, or, as it is called more often called the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

  • Once in Pisa, tourists first move in orderly rows to the Field of Miracles - Cathedral Square, where the main Pisa attractions are concentrated. And this is right if you have little time. You probably won’t find anything more stunning in this city than the Duomo of Pisa, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Campo Santo and the local museums. Nevertheless, there are many attractions in Pisa, and if you have the opportunity, you should definitely explore the city more thoroughly.

    The second most important square in Pisa is Piazza dei Cavalieri. It is not too big, but there are many historical buildings here. The piazza was once the center of political life in Pisa. Then the knights of the Order of St. settled here. Stephen, who owned the beautifully decorated sgraffito of the Palazzo della Carovana, the Palazzo del Orologio with the Tower of Hunger, described by Dante in the Divine Comedy, and the Church of Santo Stefano, the only Renaissance religious building in the city.

    The church of Sant'Antonio is worthy of attention, attracting attention with the huge Tuttomondo mural painted on the end wall by Keith Haring.

    On the northern bank of the Arno River are Lungarno Medicheo and Lungarno Pacinotti, and on the southern bank are Lungarno Galilee and Lungarno Gambarkorti. These coastal streets capture the intimate character of Pisa well, especially in the evening when the lanterns reflect on the water. These streets are home to several lesser-known city attractions. For example, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza 20 September, which are located opposite each other, connected by the Mezzo Bridge. This point is considered central in the city. From Piazza Garibaldi begins Borgo Stretto, an old street with many shops, while Corso Italia runs in the opposite direction from Piazza. September 20. This is a pedestrian area, interrupted only by a bridge, and the very heart of Pisa.

    Piazza 20 September is home to the Logge dei Banci, a building built as a textile market in 1600, as well as the City Hall.

    Churches of Pisa

    The Church of Santo Sepolcro in Lungarno Galilee is a Roman octagonal church, distinguished by a conical spire. It was designed by Diotisalvi, the author of the famous baptistery. Palazzo Agostini is a monument of Italian culture of the 15th century, where the first Italian Congress of Scientists took place. Today there is a historic café called Ussero, opened in 1775. The tiny church of Santa Maria della Spina stands right on the river bank and is considered the pearl of Italian Gothic architecture. Giargino Scotto on Lungarno Fibonacci at the end of Lungarno Galilee is a former fortress turned into a public park where open-air film screenings, music concerts and other events take place in the summer. And at the end of Lungarno Simonelli there is a citadel - a fortress that was built to protect the city from invasion from the river in the Middle Ages, when the sea was still much closer to Pisa.

    Note the wonderful Romanesque churches of Pisa. These are San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea. Finally, the church of Sant'Antonio in the square of the same name, founded at the monastery in 1341, deserves attention. During the Second World War it was almost destroyed, but today, restored, it attracts attention not so much for its beauty, but for the huge mural "Tuttomondo" painted on end wall by Keith Haring. The mural was the last public work of this contemporary graffiti artist.

Thanks to its “leaning” tower, it is one of the most recognizable places in the world. In addition, it is a city of discovery, a famous university, many masterpieces of art, called the “gateway of Tuscany”.

Thanks to the international airport "Galileo Galilei" and a well-developed railway network, it is an ideal starting point for exploring the entire region and the cities of Florence, Siena, Livorno, Pistoia. As we already said, Pisa The tower is one of the symbols of Italy abroad.

“Pisa, oh Pisa, I glorify you with the melody of the waters that accompanies your quiet life, for those who have at least once seen your heart in the blood of dawn and the sky blooming in the evening with stars and the magic moon.” Gabriele D'Annunzio

But it is also a beautiful historical center with narrow streets and large squares, Renaissance palaces, medieval tower houses, Gothic and Romanesque churches, shops and markets. Anyone who decides to stroll through the streets of this city will have the opportunity to admire the university buildings (1343), which were once palaces of aristocrats. The act of founding the university is the papal bull of Clementius VI, from whose time almost seven centuries have passed.

About 100,000 people live in Pisa, 35,000 of them are students. There are numerous various cultural events, festivals, many restaurants and discos. - the center of the province of the same name, washed by the waters of the Arno River, one of the four ancient maritime republics. It is best known for its Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Also many are attracted by the Museums of Pisa: the Museum of San Matteo (Museo di San Matteo), the Museum of Contemporary Graphics, the Blue Palace (Palazzo Blu) and Kate Haring's last great work, “Tuttomondo” (1989).

Field of Dreams(Campo dei Miracoli) – UNESCO World Heritage Site

Falling tower- one of four buildings on the “Field of Miracles” (Square of Miracles), included in the UNESCO list (along with the Cathedral of the 11-12th century, the bell tower (the leaning tower itself is the bell tower) 1173, the Baptistery of the 12-14th century with a diameter of 18 m and cemetery. The cathedral is a striking example of the Pisan Romanesque style. A true masterpiece of architecture, it contains works by Ghirlandaio, Beccafumi, Andrea del Sarto, Cimabue, Giovanni Pisano, Giambologna. Other architectural monuments include the churches of San Frediano (chiesa di San Frediano) 11-12 centuries ., Santa Caterina (13-14th century), St. Stefano (Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri) 1569 and the palaces of the Hours (Palazzo dell'Orologio) and the Cavalry (Palazzo dei Cavalieri). When you are in the city, walk to the Cavalry Square (Piazza dei Cavalieri), second in importance after the Square of Miracles, named after the papal cavalry military order that was here, known as the Sacred Order of St. Stefano, this square is full of churches and palaces.

Walking around Pisa, if you walk along Via Santa Maria along the banks of the Arno River, you will see the beautiful Gothic St. Mary's Church(Santa Maria della Spina), which contains the thorn from the crown of Christ. Initially, the church was located very close to the river, but then it was moved due to the threat of flooding (this fate befell many ancient buildings).

The embankment is especially beautiful at night, in the light of lanterns, among the reflections of buildings in the water. This is also where National Museum of San Matteo, it is worth visiting for the works of Giunta Pisano, Simone Martini, Lippo Memmi, Francesco Traini, Masaccio, Beato Angelico, Benozzo di Lese, Ghirlandaio, Nicola Pisano and Donatello. The museum also houses valuable manuscripts, medieval ceramics and wooden sculptures.

One of the most romantic poems of all time, “To Silvia” by Giacomo Leopardi, was written during his residence in Pisa. Those who have walked along the Arno embankment should relate to these lines.

Do you remember, Sylvia, still

The time of your earthly and mortal life,

When beauty shone

In your eyes, laughing and clear

And you, thoughtful, smiling,

Have you crossed the threshold of youth?..(translation by Gumilyov)

In the winter and spring of 1828 Leopardi was in Pisa. He lived in the home of a family that rented inexpensive housing to students. The two high windows of his room overlooked the vegetable garden, but with one’s gaze one could take in the entire space to the horizon. The poet went out into the city every day and walked along the embankment with a crowd of people. The daughter of the owners of the house, with whom he was friends, Teresa Lucignani, was always waiting for him on the balcony. She reminded him of Teresa Fattorini, a girl from his native Recanati who died young. Despite all his love for Pisa, Leopardi missed his home and family very much. He poured out all the feelings that he experienced in one of his masterpieces on April 19, 1828.

Second Leaning Tower of Pisa

Not everyone knows that there is another leaning tower in Pisa, less famous and significant than the one that stands in the Square of Miracles, but still capable of attracting the interest of tourists. This Bell tower of the Church of St. Michele 13th century It is also highly inclined.

The city is of Ligurian origin; in the 4th century BC. there was an Etruscan settlement here, and in 179 BC. the territory went to the Romans. They made the city the most important maritime center. The presence of the port had a beneficial effect on it in the Middle Ages, especially during the First Crusade. Later, like many cities on the Mediterranean, it experienced decline, especially due to the opposition of Genoa. The city came under the rule of the Visconti from Milan (early 15th century), then came under Florence. Despite the loss of political independence, it remained a powerful cultural center, nurtured by Galileo Galilei, mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, and physicist Antonio Pacinotti. Today it retains the status of the most important research center in Italy.

Natural beauties of Pisa

Green space in the city center – Botanical Garden at the university, the oldest of its kind in the world (1544), and Scotto's Garden(Giardino Scotto), where nature is closely intertwined with history. The garden was designed at the beginning of the 19th century. Giovanni Caluri for the Scotto family.

There is much to admire in and around Pisa, from the Pisa Mountains to the vineyards and olive groves of Volterano, from the Pisa Hills to beaches, dunes and pine groves. You can ride freely here. Here is also the Natural Park of San Rossore Massaciuccoli (Parco Naturale di Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli), which is a bizarre mosaic of landscapes. It is open all year round and visitors have the opportunity to take excursions on foot, bicycle, horseback or in a carriage. Pisa also has the sea, with beaches, pine groves and Mediterranean bush. The proximity to the sea has endowed the city with a relatively mild climate and cleanliness: the sea wind carries away harmful pollution from the city, especially in winter. There are several beaches along the coast, striking in their simplicity and natural beauty.

Neighborhoods of Pisa

In the vicinity of Pisa, a few kilometers from the historical center of the city, in an 18th century palace. The Baths of San Giuliano are located. The Carthusian monastery, the Natural History Museum and the medieval fortress of Vicopisano are also worth a visit. Of particular interest is the town of Volterra, where the Etruscans and Romans left their mark. In November, the medieval fortress of San Miniato hosts a gastronomic festival dedicated to the local product, the white truffle. Also from Pisa you can go to Lucca (less than 20 km) and Pistoia (40 km).

  • Pisa is known to the world thanks to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Tourists who think the tower is the only attraction here will miss out on the rest of the architectural and artistic wonders of this beautiful city.
  • The half-hour walk from Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) to the train station takes you through a pedestrian street lined with attractions, shops and restaurants. The best way to get to know Pisa is to stroll along the streets, as the center is very small.
  • The city comes alive with students who organize parties, shows and cultural events. They fill the main street of the city at night. The University of Pisa has 60,000 students, when the total population of the city is about 100,000. You'll feel the student spirit as soon as you leave the touristy Campo dei Miracoli.
  • Pisa is a quiet city, you don't have to worry about your safety (except in some places at night, for example the area around the station). Regardless, you should take the obvious precautions (if you're staying in a very cheap hotel, keep valuables with you) and beware of pickpockets in tourist areas.
  • You can book a hotel in Pisa at, and you can check if there is a more attractive price somewhere, at. Some travelers prefer to rent private apartments - such offers can be viewed. If you are looking for a package tour from Russia to Pisa - take a look

How to get there

By plane

Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport

The main airport of Tuscany with several airlines with hundreds of departures per day, both domestic and international. Countless companies offer charter flights from several European and other destinations. Flying to Pisa is really easy and convenient: the most well-known and inexpensive airlines serve flights to Pisa. You can choose the best option. The airport is located close to the city center - in just a few minutes you can reach the center by bus, train or taxi. The airport can also be easily reached on foot, which takes about twenty minutes.

Don't expect the airport to be open 24 hours a day. Many small airports in Europe operate on a specific schedule.

How to get to the city?

You can buy bus tickets at the information desk in the arrivals hall. The bus (The Red Line or LAM Rosso to Jacobo) runs every 10-15 minutes. The bus goes to Piazza dei Miracoli and to the central station. Since the ticket machine “speaks” only Italian, it is better to buy tickets at the information desk. Each ticket costs €1.20, but if you buy them from the bus driver it will cost you €2.00. You can buy a ticket in all shops and bookstores. An automated road is currently being built, along which it will be possible to travel between the airport and the station.

Bus station

The bus station is located opposite the airport. Once you are in the city, you can easily locate all the main attractions, which are located within walking distance. If you are catching a bus from the train station, then you will need to cross the road in front of the station and go to the right.

If you prefer a more convenient way to travel, a taxi will cost you around €6-8. Otherwise, as an alternative, you can pre-book transport to the airport. This service is especially convenient for large groups.

“Easy Private Taxi” will provide transport to the city for €36 Mercedes E class, €43 minivan.

123 Transfers offers transport to the city for €37.50 sedan (3 people), €50 minivan (8 people).

By car with a companion

This is one of the most convenient ways to get to Pisa. You can spread the costs and make travel cheaper. You can find a car that will take you to Pisa on the website: Passaggio.it

By train

In Pisa there are daily trains to Florence and Lucca (usually every hour), you can also get there by bus, there is an international airport.

Pisa Centrale is the main station in Pisa. Trains from Rome to Genova stop at Pisa Centrale. If you plan to travel only within Pisa, then this is also convenient. Pisa Centrale has luggage storage facilities available from six in the morning until nine in the evening. Storage of each bag costs three euros. If you are in the city just to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can go down to the Pisa S. Rossore station, which is closer to the tower. Be sure to check train schedules as not all trains may stop. Be that as it may, there are regional trains to Florence that run every hour at the forty-sixth minute (as on July 9, 2012).

Clue:

Pisa - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Pisa - weather by month

Clue:

Pisa - weather by month

Main attractions. What to see

Pisa is divided into four historical squares. There is more to see than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Several different routes are available.

Piazza dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is located in the north of the center of Pisa. This UNESCO World Heritage Site represents various attractions of the city:

Other historical buildings include: the Church of San Rocco, the Priest's House, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.

Museo di San Matteo, Piazza San Matteo, 1, lungarno Mediceo, +39 50 541865. This is a fantastic museum of history and art, whose buildings are full of paintings. It is quite small, but one of the largest for Tuscan Renaissance painting, located in the premises of the monastery of San Matteo. This treasure is overlooked by many tourists.

Lungarno Mediceo and Lungarno Pacinotti on the north side of the Arno, Lungarno Galilei and Lungarno Gambacorti on the south: these riverside streets give Pisa a completely unique character, especially in the evening when the lanterns reflect on the waters of the Arno. Along Lungarni there are interesting places:

Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza XX Settembre, two opposite city squares, at the ends of the Ponte di Mezzo (middle bridge). Considered the center of the city. From Piazza Garibaldi begins Borgo Stretto, an ancient street with many shops that, together with Corso Italia, create a pedestrian area (interrupted only by a bridge) that is the city center. In Piazza XX Settembre you can find the Logge dei Banchi, a textile market building dating back to 1600, and the town hall in Palazzo del Comune.

Santo Sepolcro, on Lungarno Galilei, is an octagonal Romanesque church with a conical spire, built by Diotisalvi.

Ussero Café, founded in 1775, lungarno Pacinotti 27. Monument to Italian culture in the 1400th Palazzo Agostini, on Lungarno. In 1839, the first meeting of the Congress of Italian Scientists took place here.

Santa Maria della Spina. A very small Gothic church on Lungarno Gambacorti, built in 1230 to house the thorn from the crown of Jesus. This church is considered one of the most prominent representatives of Gothic art. Due to its small size, the church was moved a little higher from the Arno River in 1800 to protect it from flooding.

Giardino Scotto, on Lungarno Fibonacci at the end of Lungarno Galilei. A former fortress converted into a public park, open in the summer for open-air cinema screenings, concerts and other events.

La Cittadella (The Citadel). A fortress at the end of Lungarno Simonelli, built to guard the entrance to the Arno River, as well as a former shipyard from the Middle Ages.

University Botanical Garden, via Luca Ghini 5. The first botanical garden in Europe, created by order of Cosimo de' Medici in 1544. The garden is open on weekday mornings, admission is free.

Beautiful Romanesque churches - San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a gallery of sculptures inside.

Tuttomondo, fresco by Keith Haring. Keith Haring visited Pisa and fell in love with the city, so he decided to paint a magnificent fresco as a gift. Although it is incredibly large, it is easy to miss, so be careful. It is located between Giuseppe Mazzini and Massimo D'Azeglio, near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

Food. What to try

Make it a rule not to eat near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as the prices are high and the quality is low. Instead, head to the central area (5-10 minutes walk from Piazza dei Miracoli). You will find very good and cheap restaurants there. For example, there are nice cafeterias with respectable prices in the small but busy vegetable market, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Also Via San Martino, near the south bank of the river there are a couple of places with good food and low prices.

It is known that not far from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in via Roma, there is a good Indian restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere and very good, although not always cheap, dishes. In Piazza dei Miracoli there is a good restaurant-pizzeria Kinzica. In any case, don't miss Salza, in Borgo Stretto, with delicious chocolates, sweets and pastries of all kinds. Don't sit inside, if only because you'll end up paying €10 for two coffees.

Finally, there is a good pizzeria next to the Turbaza, on the road leading to Leclerc.

Safety. What to watch out for

Don't buy sunglasses, umbrellas or other trinkets from illegal sellers. Stay away from fake luxury items. Upon arrival in Pisa, tourists are surrounded by merchants. Some may be pushy or overtly aggressive. Even a simple “No, thank you” can attract unwanted attention. It's better to just ignore them. Don't be afraid to seem rude.

While low prices are tempting, especially when you're on a budget when traveling, please remember that Italian police have recently been fining tourists for purchasing from illegal traders. These fines can be very steep (up to €1000). Opposite the Tower there are several merchants who are allowed to sell various items. Remember to be responsible and buy from them. Legal traders are located at stalls along the main road.

Things to do

On June 16, the Luminaria festival takes place in Pisa, in honor of the patron saint (San Ranieri). At sunset, all the lights along the Arno go out and over 10,000 candles are lit. Various actions take place on the streets, and the night ends with big fireworks.

Another summer attraction is Gioco del Ponte (Bridge Game). Held every year on the last Sunday of June, when the two sides (Tramontana and Mezzogiorno, geographically separated by the Arno River) take part in a historical procession in the company of 709 extras, and then compete with each other in physical strength. Teams of twenty try to conquer the Ponte di Mezzo (the main bridge in Pisa) by pushing a cart off the bridge to force the opposing team to leave the bridge.

Mineral springs

Casciana Terme: The thermal water in Casciana Terme has been used since ancient times. In recent years, its use has been expanded to modern methods of rehabilitation and treatment of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, treatment of digestive functions.

San Giuliano Terme: water with a positive effect and calcium-magnesium water with sulfates, rich in vital healing elements, gushing at the foot of Mount San Giuliano from the source where various springs originate, collected in two groups and called “Eastern Baths” (temperature 40° C) and "Western Baths" (temperature 38° C).

Education

Pisa School of Advanced Study of St. Anna or Scuola Superiore Sant "Anna. Public university of applied sciences, formed from the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (School of Higher Learning in Italy i.e. Scuola Superiore Universitaria).

Located: Scuola Superiore Sant "Anna, P.zza Martiri della Libertà, 33 - 56127 - Pisa ()

Scuola Normale or Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa was founded in 1810 by order of Napoleon, as a branch of the Parisian École Normale Supérieure. Recognized as a "national university" in 1862, a year after the reunification of Italy, and called during this period the "Normal School of the Italian Kingdom". (School of Higher Education in Italy i.e. Scuola Superiore Universitaria).

Location: Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa - Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7 - 56126 Pisa ()

The University of Pisa or Università di Pisa is one of the oldest universities in Italy. Officially founded on September 3, 1343 by decree of Pope Clement VI, although lectures on law had been held in Pisa since the eleventh century. The University houses the oldest botanical garden in Europe, i.e. Orto botanico di Pisa, founded in 1544.

Located: Università di Pisa - Lungarno Pacinotti, 43 - 56126 Pisa ().

The museum city of Europe, located in a bend of the Arno River, amazes tourists with the abundance of architectural attractions built in the Middle Ages. Majestic churches, cathedrals and other ancient buildings of the 12th-18th centuries organically coexist with modern buildings, and this gives the Italian city a unique flavor.

In this article we will share a description of all the attractions of Pisa with photos and recommendations for visiting.

About the city

In the Middle Ages the city was a major maritime hub, its huge port received ships from a variety of countries every day, and English, French, and Arabic were heard on the pier.

Modern Pisa no longer has its own access to the sea, although it is located half an hour from the Tyrrhenian coast. Today the city is famous throughout the world for its famous architectural structures, which are a medieval heritage.

What to see?

When the name of the city - Pisa - is mentioned in a conversation, a landmark that comes to mind is the most recognizable and famous landmark in Italy - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, Pisa has many beautiful churches and cathedrals, huge museums with interesting collections, palaces and simply interesting places where you can stroll.

For example, Square of Miracles (aka Cathedral Square), where the main attractions of Pisa are located - the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery, the Cathedral, Campo Sante.

University of Pisa and Botanical Garden represent a whole architectural complex. The educational institution received University status in the middle of the 13th century, and its work began a century earlier. Mostly humanitarian disciplines were studied here, and later a medical faculty was opened (it was at this faculty that Galileo Galilei was admitted at one time).

Among the patrons and patrons of the arts many influential people of that time were listed, for example, Duke Cosimo from Tuscany and the Medici family (the Botanical Garden appeared under their patronage). Among the famous students who studied at the University are the scientist Galileo Galilei (graduated from the Faculty of Medicine), physicist Carlo Rubia (Nobel laureate), opera tenor Andrea Bocelli (Faculty of Law).

The Botanical Garden presents the entire diversity of the world's flora - for example, a collection of cacti, camellias, hydrangeas and other “blooming” beauty. There is a fee to visit the garden - a ticket costs 3 €.

Architectural landmarks

About 90 sarcophagi dating back to antiquity and the Middle Ages have survived to this day, and sculptures and bas-reliefs inside the covered galleries depict scenes from the Old Testament.

Museums

Churches and cathedrals

In the same years when the construction of the Cathedral was underway, St. Mark's Cathedral was being built in Venice, so the architects tried to outdo each other in the solemnity and pretentiousness of the structures being erected.

  • The modern appearance of the Cathedral is due to numerous restorations; all sculptures on the façade and inside the cathedral premises have been replaced with copies, and the originals can be admired in the Cathedral Museum. Inside the Cathedral, in its main hall, you can see another miracle - lamp "Lamp of Galileo": A huge bronze chandelier hanging from a height of 50 meters sways with the slightest breath of wind, and it is truly a breathtaking sight.

    You can visit the cathedral daily from 8 to 19 hours (in winter - until 17 hours), ticket price to the museum is 2 euros, and the cathedral itself can be viewed for free.

  • Church of Santa Maria della Spino is small and not as majestic as other church buildings, but for a long time it housed an ancient Christian relic - a thorn from the crown of thorns that was on the head of Jesus Christ (later this relic was transferred to the Church of Santa Chiara).

  • St. Catherine's Church, built in the 13th century, features a beautiful façade made of white and gray marble.

    In the second half of the 17th century, the church survived the fire, which caused some damage to the interior of the church. Fortunately, almost all the icons, numerous paintings and frescoes have survived, and today the works of the Middle Ages masters are available for inspection.

  • Baptistery in Pisa.

    The round building in the Romanesque style began to be built at the beginning of the 12th century (1153) according to the design of the architect Diotisalvi, who was later joined by the sculptors Nicolo and Giovanni Pisano. Initially, the baptistery was conceived as a place for performing the sacrament of Baptism. If you look closely at the Baptistery, you will see you can notice a slight tilt towards the Pisa Cathedral.

What do you know about Pisa? Surely, you grinned after reading this question and are ready to give an answer... Probably, like most tourists, for you Pisa is the city where the famous falling tower. In fact, this is far from the most interesting place in the Italian town.

Much more people who come to admire the Leaning Tower of Pisa are amazed Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary and the baptistery (but more on them a little later). In addition, of interest is the local university, which today has more than 60,000 students (out of a total population of 90,000 people), where I once studied Galileo Galilei.

National symbol of Italy- a leaning tower, located in the city center, on Cathedral Square, or as it is called, Square of Miracles. With a visit to this legendary place, he suggests starting a virtual tour of the sights of Pisa.

What is a must see in Pisa?

Square of Miracles unlike any square in the world. Firstly, nowhere else have religious buildings been erected over such a large area. Typically, cathedrals are crowded among residential buildings and other buildings on a small piece of land. In Pisa, the cathedral, bell tower, baptistery and cemetery occupy a huge area.

Secondly, only in Pisa can you see the charming contrast of open green meadow and stone buildings. Looking at a beautiful architectural ensemble, built with extreme precision, but deviating to the side, every now and then you think: why didn’t the architects take into account the peculiarities of the sandy soil?

On the other hand, if not for an unfortunate miscalculation, the city would not have been able to boast of a huge number of tourists. What interesting things await travelers at the Square of Miracles?

Famous Leaning Tower of Pisa

Tower (also known as bell tower) Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary) was built over two centuries. It is not known for certain who its architect was. The chronicles of Bernardo Maragone mention only the year the construction began - 1173 and several names: Gerardo di Gerardo, Diotisalv and Bonanno.

Did one of them rebuild the 11-meter first floor, and only then discovered that the tower deviated vertically by 4 centimeters? Today it is already known for certain that the tower began to fall due to an error in calculations during the design, and because of moving sandy soil. Everyone who tried to complete the bell tower failed.

Only the upper part, built in the second half of the 19th century, stands more or less straight.
As soon as the construction was completed, the authorities began to solve a new problem: to strengthen the collapsing structure. What options did architects and local residents offer!

Among the most popular was the construction next to the tower of a statue of an unlucky builder, who would hold his creation with his head, hands, and knees. Such a curious project, of course, was abandoned, and for many years they were guided only by scientific achievements.

So, in 1996, steel cables were installed, soil was removed from the northern part of the foundation, etc. One way or another, but, according to expert reports, the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is decreasing from year to year. In two years it shrinks by 2.5 mm, and perhaps in the future it will become vertical.

30 million euros were spent to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This could not but affect the cost of the ticket allowing you to examine the bell tower from the inside. Today it costs 18 euros, but, as guides predict, the ticket will only become more expensive. By the way, keep in mind that only 40 people can be on the Leaning Tower of Pisa at a time.

Tourists, in addition to the legendary history of the construction of this legendary Italian structure, need to know a couple more interesting points. Once upon a time, being at the very top of the bell tower, Galileo Galilei made a great discovery. Of course, we are talking about the law of universal gravitation.

Contemporaries can also become famous: since 2013, there has been work in the tower (the famous 294 steps lead there) "Hall of Fish", where you can look at the sky through a telescope.

Leaning Tower of Pisa– not just a tourist attraction. As planned many years ago, it serves as the bell tower of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The seven bells installed on its top are capable of playing any melody.

Take note: The Leaning Tower of Pisa welcomes tourists all year round. From April to September the entrance is open from 8.30 am to 20.30 pm, and from 14.06 to 15.09 even night visits are allowed (from closing until 23.00).

It will be useful for any tourist to know. After all, this small state is incredibly beautiful and interesting.

And this page is about the most famous places and attractions of the Belgian Bruges.

Baptistery

Pisa Baptistery- not only an artistic decoration of the Square of Miracles. For a long time it was erected to perform the sacrament of Baptism within its walls. The first stone was laid in 1153 by the architect Diotisalvi, a little later he was joined by famous Italian sculptors Giovanni and Nicola Pisano.

The first thing tourists notice when peering at this harmonious building is a slight tilt towards the cathedral. And only after this do they notice the numerous figures of prophets and saints located both in the lower part of the structure and on the dome.

The latter is decorated with a sculpture of John the Baptist. Inside, a particularly valuable and interesting exhibit is the hexagonal marble pulpit, created by Nicolo Pisano.

While looking at the arches and numerous columns, don’t miss the moment when a museum worker appears and demonstrates the acoustic capabilities of the baptistery. Three notes he strikes in a row wander through space as a solid chord.

Take note: You can visit the baptistery on any day, with the exception of December 25 and January 1. In summer its doors are open from eight in the morning to eight in the evening. Ticket prices are 5 and 2 euros for adults and children respectively.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Pisa Cathedral, or as it is also called, the Pisa Cathedral, began to be built in 1064 with only one purpose - to emphasize the importance of the Pisa Maritime Republic in trade.

Many eminent architects had a hand in the construction of the cathedral. For example, the doors for the facade and the doors of the right transept were made by Bonanno Pisano (only the latter can be viewed, the first were destroyed by fire in 1595), and the carved pulpit was made by Giovanni Pisano.

Opposite the department there is another particularly valuable exhibit - a lamp "Galileo's Lamp". This bronze chandelier hangs from a height of 49 meters and sways with the influence of air currents.

Observing these uniform movements, Galileo Galilei discovered the law of isochronism of pendulum oscillations.
The treasury contains the famous statue of the Virgin Mary by Giovanni Pisano (ivory carving).

Take note: By paying 2 euros you can get inside the Cathedral in Pisa. In summer it is open from 8.00 to 19.40; in winter the opening hours are reduced.

Camposanto - indoor monumental cemetery

It is located in the northern part of the Square of Miracles. Numerous tombstones of prominent figures in Pisa stand on holy soil brought by the Crusaders from Mount Golgotha. Construction of the cemetery lasted for almost three centuries. Its walls were painted with frescoes, but not many of them survived: during a fire caused by the bombing of World War II, most of them melted.

Currently, Camposanto houses 80 sarcophagi of ancient and medieval origin. University rectors, associate professors, and rulers rest in them. It is unlikely that their names will be familiar to tourists from the CIS countries, but the name of the great mathematician Fibonacci is well-known even among schoolchildren.

The entrance ticket will cost 5 euros. Its work schedule coincides with the baptistery's work schedule.

University of Pisa

The Pisan educational institution was awarded university status on September 3, 1343. At that time he specialized in the humanities, but there was also a medical faculty. It was precisely this that the young man entered Galileo Galilei.

He had little interest in learning obscure Latin terms. Luckily for him, just at this time a fateful meeting took place with a famous mathematician of that time Ostilio Ricci.

Over the course of many centuries, the University of Pisa either ceased its work or reopened. The educational institution becomes especially famous when the Tuscan Duke Cosimo I (under whom the university’s charter was approved) and the Medici family (they founded a huge botanical garden that is still functioning today) became its patrons.

Many talented and world-famous personalities have emerged from the walls of the University of Pisa. Such as you already know

  • Galileo Galilei
  • physicists Enrico Fermi and Carlo Rubbia (Nobel Prize laureates)
  • poet Joshua Carducci (also Nobel Prize winner)
  • opera singer Andrea Bocelli

Today, students of the University of Pisa study in 11 faculties. Tuition is paid and amounts to approximately 2000 euros per year. This amount is relatively low, because the university is one of the top three
the best in Italy.

In addition to the botanical garden already mentioned above, there are 5 museums in the buildings of the educational institution:

  • measuring instruments
  • medical
  • graphics
  • local history
  • veterinary

Those interested in human anatomy can get acquainted with the collection of the same name. Looking at its exhibits, you involuntarily compare the exhibition with the St. Petersburg Kunstkamera.

Take note: visiting the botanical garden is paid. An excursion during which visitors get acquainted with collections of cacti, hydrangeas, orchids and camellias will cost 2.5 euros.

We present to your attention a small selection. The city is the business and financial center of Germany.

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On this page of our website you will find a lot of interesting information about the famous German city of Nuremberg.

Photos of some of the sights of Pisa