Pisa

Home to the iconic Leaning Tower, Pisa is a vibrant university city with a stunning medieval Piazza dei Miracoli. Beyond the tower, its riverside streets and markets reward curious visitors.

Things to do

• Climb the Leaning Tower — Book tickets online in advance; the climb offers a surprisingly dramatic tilt sensation.
• Visit the Baptistery — Test the remarkable acoustics inside by asking a guard for a live echo demonstration.
• Stroll along the Arno at sunset — The Lungarni riverside streets glow golden at dusk and are far less touristy than the Piazza.
• Explore Camposanto Monumentale — This cloistered cemetery holds ancient Roman sarcophagi and haunting medieval frescoes.
• Browse Mercato delle Vettovaglie — A lively covered market in the city centre selling local produce, cheese and street food.

Food to try

• Cecina — A thin crispy chickpea flour flatbread cooked in a wood oven, eaten in a bread roll.
• Torta coi Bischeri — A sweet tart filled with rice, chocolate and dried fruit unique to Pisa.
• Ribollita — A thick Tuscan bread and vegetable soup re-boiled from leftovers for deep flavour.
• Trippa alla Pisana — Slow-cooked tripe in tomato sauce, a popular street food among locals.

Local customs & good to know

• Do not fake pushing the tower — The cliché photo is expected but locals find it amusing; embrace it or skip the queue.
• Visit in the evening — The Piazza dei Miracoli is strikingly lit at night and tourist crowds thin out considerably.
• Explore beyond Piazza dei Miracoli — The university quarter and river banks reveal authentic Pisan daily life away from tour groups.