Discover Pisa and find hotels

When looking for a hotel in Pisa, you can first consider which themes you want to shape your stay: medieval architecture, collections, botany or the city’s history. The sights each highlight different aspects, offering different ways to experience the city. The following places and works can help you explore Pisa according to your interests.

Medieval architecture and city history

Pisa’s Piazza del Duomo brings together four masterpieces of medieval architecture in a unique, closely grouped ensemble: the cathedral, the baptistery, the bell tower known as the Leaning Tower, and the cemetery. The monuments are also a point of reference for research into the Pisan Romanesque style. Those interested in architectural history will find both a cohesive ensemble and a concrete example of a regional style.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina offers a different architectural perspective. Built in 1230 on the banks of the Arno, it is considered an exceptional example of Pisan Gothic architecture. Taken together, the Piazza del Duomo and the church represent different architectural expressions: medieval Romanesque here, Pisan Gothic there. This distinction makes the city’s architectural history tangible without reducing the two places to a single sight.

Pisa’s medieval walls also tell the story of the city’s historic form. They extended for about 7 km; the towers stood around 300 m apart, and the walls had about 20 gates. These measurements give an idea of the extent of the fortifications and add a broader urban-historical context to the view of individual churches and monuments.

Museums: water, finds and regional connections

The Museo delle Navi antiche is housed in the Arsenali Medicei. Its eight sections tell more than 1,000 years of Pisa’s history and its relationship with water. The focus is therefore not only on individual ships, but also on a long historical context. Guided tours focus on ancient ships and archaeological finds from excavations in the Pisa San Rossore area. If you plan to take a tour, check the available dates in advance.

The Museo nazionale di San Matteo has a different focus: its extensive collections include medieval Islamic ceramics, medieval coins and medieval seals. These three groups of objects offer a view of different forms of historical craft and material culture. By contrast, the collection at Palazzo Blu is focused on Pisa and its surrounding area: works are connected to the city and its environs through their creators, patrons, origins or subject matter. The collections thus differ not only in their objects, but also in how they relate to Pisa.

Botanical history at the Orto Botanico

The Orto Botanico di Pisa was founded in 1543 and, according to the University of Pisa, is the world’s oldest university botanical garden. It covers about two hectares and houses around 3,000 cultivated plants. Its layout is based primarily on historical criteria and comprises seven areas: Scuola Botanica, Orto del Cedro, Orto del Mirto, Serre, Piazzale Arcangeli, Orto Nuovo and Orto Del Gratta.

The garden thus combines a long institutional history with a clearly defined spatial layout. Its connection to Pisa is revealed differently here than at the monuments or in the museums: the focus is on its founding history, the garden’s areas and the cultivated plants. If you are particularly interested in botany, this focus offers another way to shape your stay around a theme.

Art in the city and practical information

Another work with a clear date is Tuttomondo: Keith Haring created the mural in Pisa in 1989. It complements the medieval architecture and collection themes with a work of 20th-century art. Together with the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina, the museums and the Orto Botanico, it shows the variety of cultural themes you can use to guide your choices in Pisa.

For getting around, the official free Walking in the City app from Pisa’s city tourism service offers eight urban walking routes. The Piazza del Duomo area is closed to public and private vehicle traffic. Take this restriction into account when planning your arrival, and check the latest municipal notices before setting out. This way, you can shape your stay around the topics that interest you while planning routes and dates separately.

Discover more destinations: Marina Di Pisa, Tirrenia, Calambrone, Riglione-Oratoio, San Giuliano Terme, Capannoli, Orentano, Garetto Basso.

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