PISA: THE LEANING TOWER AND MORE
Those who come to Pisa thinking that all they will see is the Leaning Tower may be in for a surprise. The Tuscan city, on the right bank of the River Arno, is the capital of the Province of Pisa and home to many architectural and artistic marvels. Pisa is serviced by regular trains to and from Florence and Lucca, and is also accessible by bus, and has an airport. In fact, Pisa’s Galileo Galilei airport (named after Pisa’s most famous son) is the main destination for Tuscany and central Italy after Rome, and several airlines operate out of it, flying to national and international destinations. Pisa welcomes thousands of international tourists every year, and boasts some excellent accommodation facilities.
Pisa is unusual among major Italian cities in that its origin is unknown. Historians differ over whether the city is of Ligurian or Greek origin, but remains of an Etruscan necropolis and a Roman colony have also been found nearby. At any rate, Pisa first belonged to the Lombard kingdom and later the Carolingian empire. It was also an important naval base in the Roman era, and a centre for Mediterranean trade.
Today, Pisa is divided into four historical quarters, though the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) contains Pisa’s most famous sights. Among them is, of course, the Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente). Originally a cathedral bell tower, construction on it began in 1173 and the tower began leaning owing to subsidence of the ground soon after. The tower is open to climbing, after a successful initiative to stop it leaning any further was completed in 2001. Next to the tower is Duomo di Pisa, the Cathedral, which contains works by Giambolna, Della Robbia, and others. The Baptistery is a large round Romanesque dome with more sculptured decorations and a fine view.
The Campo Santo is a huge cemetery with plenty of interesting art, including a collection of ancient Roman sculptures and pre-Renaissance murals. The Museo del Opera del Duomo also has interesting sculptures and paintings. Then there’s the Museo delle Sinopie, a treat for art lovers. For the devout, the Santa Maria della Spina is important as the repository of a thorn from Jesus’ crown. The old town square or Piazza dei Cavalieri, the Santo Sepolcro (a Templar church), and the Romanesque churches of San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, and Sant’Andrea are other tourist attractions.
Accommodation in Pisa is abundant and of high quality. Our comprehensive list offers you a selection of hotels, exclusive apartments, bead & breakfasts and farmhouses that are designed for international tourists and promise you every comfort. Just take a look and you will know.
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