The world famous tower of Pisa is a massive attraction for tourists with well over a million visitors per year. How many of these tourists fail to look beyond the tower to see what else the city of Pisa has to offer?

A recent €30 million redevelopment of Pisa’s main attractions now means there is no better time to explore what else this beautiful city has been hiding. Below are just some of the best things to see and do in and around the historic city of Pisa.

Campo dei Miracoli

Italy’s grandest medieval construction project has more for you to view than just the leaning tower. Right next door is the grand Pisa Cathedral with its elegant facade of arches. If you look carefully, you will be able to notice that each one of the columns has their own individual design.

Once you get inside the cathedral the first thing to draw your attention is the marvelous and incredibly ornate golden ceiling. You can’t fail to be impressed by the sights within as you are treated to some of the finest Italian art available anywhere.

The circular Baptistry is well worth a visit too, and if you venture up the narrow stairs you will be rewarded with an excellent view of the cathedral.

Close by is the Museo Delle Sinopie housing a small collection of frescoes in the process of restoration and an ideal place to escape the crowds for a little while. A collection of treasures from the cathedral and baptistry can be found in the Cathedral Museum which is also nearby.

Thanks to the investment in redeveloping Pisa’s attractions, you are now able to take a walk along 2km of the city walls. From there you are afforded views of the impressive Camposanto cemetery and even the giant weights which were required to reduce the lean of the tower when fears of its collapse were heightened in 2007. Entrance to the city walls is free.

Further beyond the Campo dei Miracoli, you will discover narrow lanes and alleys opening up to grand piazzas. You can find more museums, palaces, theaters, bars, and concert halls, that you would expect to find in a historic and evolving city.

Palazzo Blu

Standing out among the buildings at Pisa’s riverside is the Palazzo Blu. This 14th-century art gallery is noticeable for its azure blue coloring and is considered to be Pisa’s most exciting gallery.

In the past, it has featured exhibitions from Toulouse-Lautrec and Salvador Dali. You can check their website for details of the current exhibition, and entrance is free if you choose to pay a visit.

Places to Eat

Although no longer a coastal city, its history was very much tied up with the sea. La Scaletta restaurant is a fantastic example of a fish eatery. Just a short walk from the popular tourist area, La Scaletta has a 150-year tradition of creating seafood dishes. The current chef has a skill for creating innovative and surprising meals, but if you are looking for a more traditional menu that is still available to choose from.

In the city center you will find La Pergoletta restaurant. It features, tables arranged around a courtyard with an illuminated tree at its center, providing a very pleasant evening dining experience. The menu offers you a more traditional variety of dishes from the Tuscany region and comes highly recommended.

The banks of the Arno river are a good place to find other restaurants and bars, to suit your tastes during an evening exploring the city.

Excursions Outside Pisa

If you are spending a few days or more in Pisa, you will find trips out of the city to be a rewarding experience.

A trip to the San Rossore National Park offers you the chance to get some fresh air when choosing one of the five trails available through the greenery and sand dunes. It is possible to travel to the beach from here by horse-drawn carriage, through the unspoiled, varied forests and marshland.

South of San Rossore can be found the ancient site of San Piero a Grado. The Basilica of San Piero a Grado began construction in the 10th century but was built over much earlier Roman structures. The basilica is in stark contrast to Pisa Cathedral, with a wooden truss ceiling and modest columns. The columns do, however, support a recently restored intricate but large fresco from the 14th century. It features portraits of the Popes, from Saint Peter, the first Pope, up until Pope John XVIII in 1303.

On the opposite side of Pisa, in the village of Calci, you can find the Pisa Charterhouse. Formally a monastery, it is now the home of the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa. Housed in an enormous compound of buildings and set in an area previously referred to as the “Pretty Valley”, it seems a world away from the busy city center.

Reputed to be one of the oldest museums in the world, it specializes in dinosaurs and aquatic mammals. Aside from the museum, the huge monastery and church offer you plenty of Baroque architecture and history to explore.

If you are in need of a more relaxing time, take a trip north of Pisa to San Giuliano Terme for a spa. The Bagni di Pisa resort offers basic treatments as well as a wide variety of beauty or medical spa treatments to maximize your relaxation. Luxuriate in the thermal waters within a grotto carved out of rock or in freshly renovated pools.

Slightly further afield still, you can visit the hilltop medieval village of Vicopisano. Boasting a castle which was constructed over 1000 years ago to dominate the surrounding valley and a military stronghold known as the Rocca. There is also an archaeological exhibition housed in the Palazzo Pretorio, a medieval public building featuring a prison and priest accommodation.

Pisa is also not too far from the cities of Florence and Lucca, allowing you to use it as a base to visit the historic sights in those beautiful cities. Also allowing for exploration of the scenic countryside villages off the traditional tourist route.

As you can tell there is much to do and see besides just the tower, in Pisa. It clearly warrants more time than most tourists normally allow, to enable you to fully experience what Pisa and the surrounding areas have to offer.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy soon don’t forget to include Volterra on your itinerary. If you’re working with a travel agent, ask them about adding it to your travel plans. You don’t want to miss this historic town with Tuscan roots that date back to before the 7th Century! There are over 3,000 years of history and do they have a story to tell you!

The city of Volterra is a town that sits on top of a hill not far from San Gimignano. It’s recommended that you take at least two days to explore but if you’re pressed for time, there are certain things you need to see before moving on to your next destination.

You’ll see sights such as the Roman Theatre that dates back to the 1st Century, BC. It was excavated in the 1950’s. There’s also the Volterra Cathedral that got an expansion in the 13the Century after an earthquake. These are just a few of the sites you’ll see when you travel through the Pisa region of Italy. If you only have one day to explore Volterra, here is what we recommend you do!

Volterra was once a powerful member of the Etruscan League of Twelve Cities which means you don’t want to miss what remains from this ancient time in history. To give you a little bit of a background, the Etruscan League was founded by two noblemen of Lydian Descent who were brothers named Tarchum and Tyrrhenus. The league was both economic and religious and it was similar to other Greek States. As you visit Volterra, be sure to enter from the Porta all’Arco because it’s the only gate that managed to survive from the original Etruscan Wall. The gate dates back to the 4th Century, BC. Be sure to look up as you pass through the gate–God’s weathered head is watching you on your journey.

Once you enter through the gates, find Priori Palace. Priori Palace is the current and oldest town hall in the region, dating back to 1208. It was completed in the middle of the 13the Century but it suffered from a blow in 1472 when Volterra was stripped of its administration. It has breathtaking views from the top but you’ll need to make quite a climb in order to see them. The windows on both the second and third floors are intact and to this day they maintain their Romanesque structure.
If you choose to remain on the ground you can always go shopping. There are plenty of artisans who have set up shop and if you get hungry you can always grab a bite to eat at one of several restaurants on site as well. Dining choices include Osteria dei Poeti Volterra, La Vecchia Lira, and Del Duca. Take note, however, that these restaurants are only open in the evening for supper.

Then there’s the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a Roman Cathedral that dates back to the 12th Century. It’s dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and it’s ceiling is covered in gilt. It was built in 1117 after an earthquake destroyed most of the town. Go inside and you’ll notice the unique architecture as the nave and the interior space come together to form a cross. The nave is covered in with stucco that looks like it might be rose colored granite. The stucco was completed in the 16th Century and completely restored in 1842 and 1843.

Be sure to see the pulpit that has three reliefs. These reliefs represent the The Last Supper, the Annunciation and the Sacrifice of Issac. Once you finish at the Cathedral, visit another nearby church, San Francesco’s Capella della Croce di Giorno. San Francesco’s is covered in beautiful frescos you won’t soon forget.

After you’ve had your fill of churches take a walk to the nearby Roman Theatre. You can’t miss it because it’s visible from outside the walls of the city and it’s located near Porta Fiorentina. There is an admission fee to get instead because you’ll need a ticket but don’t hesitate to go inside. It’s half-circle seating that was built into a hill. You can reach it by climbing stairs to the roofed corridor which to this day still stands for all to see.
It’s architecture had an influence on the Romans but the architecture itself was a product of Greece. At the height of its’ existence it seated between 1800 and 2000 spectators. The theatre fell in the 13th Century but it was excavated in the 1950’s.

Once you exit the theatre be sure to learn about the people who built Volterra. Learn all about the Etruscan World by visiting the Museum Guarnacci. At the museum you’ll see a vast collection of funeral urns as well as Italy’s best collection of Etruscan artifacts. It is also one of the oldest public museums in Europe. You’ll also get to view the statue “Ombra della Sera” which in Italian means Evening Shadow.

“Ombra della Sera” made its debut in 1737 as a work of art displayed with other pieces of Etruscan antiques. It was commissioned by an artist by the name of Alberto Giacometti. The statue itself is a representation of a nude man, about 22 inches long. In its’ own unique way the statue is rather odd. The body of the man depicted is rather elongate but the head is in proportion to that of a man who might be alive when the statue was carved. Archaeologists claim that “Ombra della Sera” dates back to the 3rd Century BC.

If you’ve never tried truffles, you’re missing out! Truffles are a type of fungus found near tree roots. Yes, they are a fungus but don’t let them scare you off. They are rather delicious and Italy is famous for them. Some species of truffles are actually rather rare which can make them somewhat expensive but try not to pass them up. They are quite the delicacy and depending on the region of Italy, they come in several different varieties. In the northern regions of Italy, they are white. Be sure to find a restaurant that serves them before you leave!

From Tuscany to Rome and everywhere in between Italy has plenty of opportunities to both see and do things. Take advantage of all that Volterra has to offer while you’re there!

Category: pisa

Besides the Tower, What Can I See and Do in Pisa?

Campo dei Miracoli

Palazzo Blu

Places to Eat

Excursions Outside Pisa

Pisa Day Itineraries: Discover Volterra