The Leaning Tower is one of the first sights people think of when Pisa is mentioned but if you are planning a trip to the city, there are other cultural gems that you should take the time to visit. Pisa is a Tuscan city with a rich historical heritage and was an important artistic centre for a very long time.
As a result, wonderful buildings, monuments and artworks remain from both the distant past and from recent years. Many of these are free to visit (in fact, we've written two articles focusing on things to do for free in Pisa) and some are obscure enough to be devoid of the long lines that often plague Tuscany's cultural hot-spots.
Once you have found a villa with pool in the Pisa area, be sure to stop by these highlights in the city.
As a result, wonderful buildings, monuments and artworks remain from both the distant past and from recent years. Many of these are free to visit (in fact, we've written two articles focusing on things to do for free in Pisa) and some are obscure enough to be devoid of the long lines that often plague Tuscany's cultural hot-spots.
Once you have found a villa with pool in the Pisa area, be sure to stop by these highlights in the city.
To the west of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Duomo is Pisa's Baptistery, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, that was begun in 1152 but not completed until 1363. It combines Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine and Islamic styles and influences and is small but perfectly formed for exceptional acoustics.
Like the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral, the Baptistry leans to one side – 0.6 degrees in the direction of the Cathedral, as the sand of the Piazza dei Miracoli doesn't properly support the weight of such structures.
While it may be a somewhat lesser-known attraction, you should expect to find tourist crowds here due to the location on the Piazza dei Miracoli.
Like the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral, the Baptistry leans to one side – 0.6 degrees in the direction of the Cathedral, as the sand of the Piazza dei Miracoli doesn't properly support the weight of such structures.
While it may be a somewhat lesser-known attraction, you should expect to find tourist crowds here due to the location on the Piazza dei Miracoli.
One of the greatest architectural gems of the city also happens to be somewhere to avoid those tourist crowds: The Knight's Square, or Piazza dei Cavalieri, a town square and landmark of great historical importance. It is thought to have Roman origins, was a political centre during the Middle Ages, used as the headquarters of the Order of the Knights, and was the site of Medici displays of power. From 1556 to 1569, the buildings were reconstructed with a Renaissance flair under Giorgio Vasari. The piazza was lavishly remodelled as a perfect example of Renaissance architecture and spacious town planning. Today, it's a great place to sit in the summer shade and take in the rich historical heritage of the city. Another outdoor cultural gem in Pisa is Keith Haring's “Tuttomondo” mural. Located near the station in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, it was painted on the side of the old convent of S. Antonio in 1989 as an ode to peace and harmony in the world. It can be visited and view 24/7 and is a serious, and unexpected highlight of this charming town. Who says all of Tuscany's cultural riches are hidden behind locked doors?
Photo credits
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY 2.5;
picture 2: Massimo Catarinella / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY 2.5;
picture 2: Massimo Catarinella / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 3.0
