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Guide to Pisa
Pisa hasn't always been represented by the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa'. It was once a vibrant port town with thousands of traders, crusaders and travellers passing through the city. Since the planners didn't consider the weight of the tall building and the effect on the soft sandy ground, the Leaning Tower has become the symbol if the city. Despite the dominance of the Tower on visitors' itineraries, there is much more to see and do in this famous ecclesiastical city. Monuments dedicated to historical figures, churches and cathedrals, museums filled with fantastic sculptures & artwork and markets filled with ‘the perfect gifts’. From the 10th century onwards the city played an important part in the Crusades. Given the importance of Pisa over the centuries, the representation of the ages that may be seen in the city will come as no surprise to any visitor.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in the Field of Miracles (Campo dei Miracoli). The original builders working on the construction realised the Tower had started to lean when just three stories high but attempts to compensate the disparity did not stop the tilt to one side. In the early 1990s there were attempts made to reduce the tilt and the work is still ongoing to ensure the continued 'stability' of the construction. The Field of Miracles is an open green field of sandy soil and also has the Duomo, The Baptistery and the Camposanto Monumentale in the grounds. The architecture of the buildings in the area make for an informative exploration into the architectural and ecclesiastical history of the city. The great scientist Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, growing up here amongst the little streets and studying at the University of Pisa. His major discoveries included disproving the Aristotelian approach to physics, inventing the telescope and believing (proving) the Copernican System of the solar system (the planets revolve around the sun). He was tried by the Inquisition and forced to renounce his views by the Roman Catholic Church! The Botanical Gardens of Pisa, located near the Field of Miracles, is a wonderful place to sit and watch life go by. They are the oldest botanical gardens in Europe, originally constructed in the 1500s and promoted by Cosimo I de' Medici as part of the University of Pisa. The gardens are filled with plants and herbs of great medicinal value and study. The narrow streets of the city have many different types of restaurants and cafes perfect for resting tired feet after a long day of sightseeing.
For more retail focused opportunities, the traditional crafts of the region make for excellent gifts and the shopping facilities of Pisa are renowned for great bargains. Daily markets can be found in among the narrow little streets and are filled with great food products, traditional terracotta work and, of course, the usual Italian leatherwork. Pisa’s trade people are known for their quality furniture production. There are many great stores around the city with quality work that are a joy to visit, look around and hunt for that elusive bargain. Tourist offices are located around the city including at the airport, the railway station and at the Duomo.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in the Field of Miracles (Campo dei Miracoli). The original builders working on the construction realised the Tower had started to lean when just three stories high but attempts to compensate the disparity did not stop the tilt to one side. In the early 1990s there were attempts made to reduce the tilt and the work is still ongoing to ensure the continued 'stability' of the construction. The Field of Miracles is an open green field of sandy soil and also has the Duomo, The Baptistery and the Camposanto Monumentale in the grounds. The architecture of the buildings in the area make for an informative exploration into the architectural and ecclesiastical history of the city. The great scientist Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, growing up here amongst the little streets and studying at the University of Pisa. His major discoveries included disproving the Aristotelian approach to physics, inventing the telescope and believing (proving) the Copernican System of the solar system (the planets revolve around the sun). He was tried by the Inquisition and forced to renounce his views by the Roman Catholic Church! The Botanical Gardens of Pisa, located near the Field of Miracles, is a wonderful place to sit and watch life go by. They are the oldest botanical gardens in Europe, originally constructed in the 1500s and promoted by Cosimo I de' Medici as part of the University of Pisa. The gardens are filled with plants and herbs of great medicinal value and study. The narrow streets of the city have many different types of restaurants and cafes perfect for resting tired feet after a long day of sightseeing.
For more retail focused opportunities, the traditional crafts of the region make for excellent gifts and the shopping facilities of Pisa are renowned for great bargains. Daily markets can be found in among the narrow little streets and are filled with great food products, traditional terracotta work and, of course, the usual Italian leatherwork. Pisa’s trade people are known for their quality furniture production. There are many great stores around the city with quality work that are a joy to visit, look around and hunt for that elusive bargain. Tourist offices are located around the city including at the airport, the railway station and at the Duomo.
PISA DOWNTOWN DETAILS
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