Pisa is famous for its Leaning Tower, but the city has a full day’s worth of attractions beyond the iconic tilt. The Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) is one of Europe’s finest medieval architectural ensembles, a UNESCO World Heritage site that also contains the Cathedral, Baptistery, and Camposanto. Beyond the square, Pisa offers a lively university-quarter dining scene, riverside walks along the Arno, Keith Haring’s last mural, and one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
Things to Do in Pisa: Monuments and Landmarks
Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre Pendente)
The 56-metre (184-foot) campanile leans at an angle of about 3.97 degrees, the result of an unstable foundation on soft soil that became apparent during construction in 1173. The tower has 297 steps (the last few are slippery from centuries of foot traffic). Tickets cost 20 euros and must be booked in advance at opapisa.it; same-day walk-up is almost never available. Each time slot admits 45 people for a 30-minute visit. Children under 8 cannot climb. The tower reopened in 2001 after a decade-long stabilization project that reduced the lean by about 45 cm. The best photos are from the east side in the morning and the west side in late afternoon. July climbs at midday in 30 degrees C heat are punishing; book 9:00 or 18:00 slots instead. Check the Pisa weather by month guide for seasonal conditions.
Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta)
Begun in 1064 and consecrated in 1118, the Romanesque cathedral is free to enter (pick up a timed ticket at the ticket office near the Leaning Tower). The interior features a coffered gilded ceiling, a marble pulpit by Giovanni Pisano (sculpted 1302 to 1310), and the lamp called “Lampada di Galileo” that allegedly inspired Galileo’s pendulum theory. The apse mosaic of Christ in Majesty dates from the early 14th century. Dress code enforced: shoulders and knees must be covered. Open daily 10:00 to 18:00 (until 19:00 in April to September).
Baptistery of St. John
The largest baptistery in Italy, at 55 metres (180 feet) tall with a circumference of 107 metres (351 feet). Construction began in 1152 under architect Diotisalvi. The exterior alternates Romanesque arcades with Gothic pinnacles. Inside, the octagonal baptismal font by Guido Bigarelli da Como (1246) is the centerpiece. The famous echo: every 30 minutes, a guard demonstrates the extraordinary acoustics by singing a few notes; the sound reverberates for several seconds. Combined ticket with Camposanto costs 10 euros. Open daily 9:00 to 18:00.
Camposanto Monumentale
The monumental cemetery on the north side of the square was built in 1277 with soil brought back from Golgotha by Crusaders, according to legend. The rectangular cloister contains Roman sarcophagi, medieval frescoes, and an extensive collection of Etruscan and Roman artifacts. The frescoes were badly damaged by Allied incendiary bombs in 1944; today you can see the restored remnants alongside photographs of their pre-war state. Quiet and contemplative, it is often the least crowded of the four monuments. Entry 10 euros, combined with the Baptistery.
Things to Do in Pisa: Museums and Culture
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
Located in the former cathedral chapter house on the southeast corner of the Piazza dei Miracoli. Houses original sculptures from the cathedral and baptistery, including works by Giovanni Pisano and Tino di Camaino, plus the original griffin (a 10th-century Islamic bronze that sat atop the cathedral). The museum also holds the cathedral’s treasury of goldsmith work and illuminated manuscripts. Entry 7 euros. Open 8:30 to 18:30 in summer, 9:00 to 16:30 in winter.
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo
A superb collection of Pisan and Tuscan painting and sculpture from the 12th to 16th centuries, housed in a former Benedictine convent on the Arno’s north bank (Piazza San Matteo in Soarta). Highlights include a polyptych by Simone Martini, Donatello’s reliquary bust of San Rossore, and crucifixes by Giunta Pisano. Entry 5 euros. Open Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 13:30, Sunday 9:00 to 13:00. Closed Monday. Too few visitors make it here; you will likely have galleries to yourself.
Tuttomondo (Keith Haring Mural)
American artist Keith Haring painted this 180-square-metre mural on the back wall of the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate in 1989, the year before his death. It was his last public work and the only one he created with the intention of permanent display. The mural depicts 30 figures in Haring’s signature style, representing peace and harmony. Free to view, on Via Zandonai near the train station (10-minute walk from Piazza dei Miracoli). A surprising contrast to medieval Pisa.
Things to Do in Pisa: Outdoor and Riverfront
Orto Botanico di Pisa
Founded in 1544 by the naturalist Luca Ghini, this is the oldest university botanical garden in the world still in its original location. The 3-hectare garden on Via Luca Ghini (near Piazza dei Cavalieri) contains a 1786 arboretum, a palm house, aquatic plant ponds, and the “Botany School” building (1595) with a facade encrusted with sea shells. Entry 4 euros. Open Monday to Saturday 8:30 to 17:30 (winter) or 8:30 to 20:00 (summer). The garden provides a quiet green escape from the Tower crowds. Check the best time to visit Pisa for the flowering seasons.
Lungarni (Arno River Walks)
The embankments along the Arno River are at their best in the late afternoon and early evening. Start at the Ponte di Mezzo (the central bridge connecting Piazza Garibaldi to Piazza XX Settembre), then walk west along Lungarno Mediceo past the San Matteo museum. The palazzi along the river, including Palazzo Agostini and Palazzo Blu, reflect gold light at sunset. The riverside is also the setting for the Luminara festival in June when thousands of candles float on the Arno. See the Pisa events and festivals guide for dates.
Piazza dei Cavalieri
The political heart of medieval Pisa and now the seat of the Scuola Normale Superiore (founded by Napoleon in 1810). The piazza is dominated by the Palazzo della Carovana, whose entire facade is covered in black-and-white sgraffito decoration by Giorgio Vasari (1564). The statue of Cosimo I de’ Medici stands in front. Free to visit. The Scuola Normale is Italy’s most selective university (admission by national exam only). The square is a 5-minute walk from the Piazza dei Miracoli.
