Pisa – what to see in one day: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Baptistery, Campo Santo Monumentale, Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.
When we talk about Tuscany, the first thing that comes to mind is endless gardens with olive trees and vineyards, in the middle of which there are villas, and on the hills tower the bell towers of small towns with brick houses along cobblestone streets. In principle, this is a classic image of Italy – and for good reason. Relaxation in the Italian countryside and the opportunity to visit iconic cities – Florence, Siena or Pisa – this is the classic of a vacation in Tuscany.
I also dreamed of seeing all these bright pictures. And my plane landed in Pisa – a city with a famous tower, which for some reason is constantly falling. Because Pisa is located in Tuscany, and its airport is called Tuscany Airport, and it is very convenient to start your Tuscan adventures from here. So I did.
I spent only one day and one night in Pisa. And while one day is never enough to truly get to know the city, it turned out to be enough to see all of Pisa’s key attractions.
I advise to read: 15 the most beautiful places in Tuscany
How to get to Pisa
By plane: Wizz Air flies to Pisa International Airport (PSA), as well as Ryanair from many European cities. A couple of hours on the plane and you are already here.
You can get from the airport to the train station for 5 Euros by train Pisa Mover.
By train: The train is a good option to get to Pisa from surrounding cities. Pisa Centrale is one of Italy’s main railway hubs, allowing travelers to reach and from surrounding destinations in the area.
By car: If you are planning a car trip around Tuscany, look for hotels in the city with their own parking. But it is important to know that in the center of Italian cities, only residents and service vehicles can travel by car. You can find out that driving by car for those who do not live in the city by seeing the ZTL sign – Zona Trafico Limitato. Driving under this sign means automatic receipt of a fine (from 50 Euros). Therefore, I advise you to find a paid daily parking space in advance, where you can leave your own or rented car.
I am always looking for the best prices and conditions on Rentalcars.com. Here, it is convenient to choose the right location to rent a car, read reviews about rental offices, and compare prices and conditions of different companies.
How to get around in Pisa
If you’re only planning to spend one day in Pisa as part of a longer itinerary in Tuscany, you’ll want to see as many of Pisa’s attractions as possible.
Fortunately, Pisa is a relatively small city – at least its Old Town – and it’s easy enough to get around and see the main sights. Most of the popular sites can be reached within a 20-minute walk, which is also a great way to get to know the city’s lively streets.
What to do in Pisa in one day
Now that you know how to get around Pisa, I’ll tell you about the best things you can see here in one day.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is probably the most famous place not only in Pisa, but also one of the most famous landmarks in Italy. The tower is located a few minutes walk from the train station – you won’t get lost, that’s for sure.
The world-famous tower is a popular place for tourists to take pictures, pretending to push the tower straight. I need to do that someday (just kidding).
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, built 850 years ago as a separate bell tower for the neighboring cathedral. Why has it been falling for hundreds of years and will never fall? The sea, which is located not far from Pisa, is to blame for everything. The city was once a powerful port, the sea sometimes approached it, then moved away.
It was because of the eroded soil that the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned, but by some engineering miracle it remains in this state.
In general, Italy is full of such towers. I saw one of them on the island of Burano near Venice – it is the campanile of the church of San Martino.
And Pisa also has several leaning towers. For example, the tower of the church of St. Nicholas (San Nicola) on the narrow street Via Santa Maria, which was built on the site of a river, which is why it turned out to be so winding. And the tower of San Michele degli Scalzi, located in the pine park of Piagge (le Piagge).
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
Also known as the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, the cathedral was designed with a strong Byzantine influence and features stunning Romanesque architecture.
The cathedral embodies a variety of styles and designs, highlighting the international influence on the city. Along with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the cathedral attracts countless travelers every day.
Baptistery
The Baptistery is the third landmark of Pisa in the Piazza dei Miracoli trio, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Leaning Tower being the other two.
The Baptistery was inaugurated in 1063, in front of the tower, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Today, the Pisan Baptistery is known throughout the world for its incredible acoustics.
Campo Santo Monumentale
One of Pisa’s most famous landmarks is Campo Santo Monumentale. The monumental cemetery is also located in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli.
The sacred space is filled with many fascinating frescoes, as well as wonderful works of art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Campo Santo has a large collection of Roman sarcophagi, sculptures and urns that will be of interest to any history buff.
Keith Haring mural
While Pisa is a city known for its magnificent ancient architecture and art, it also has some modern works. Graffiti created by the famous American artist Keith Haring is revered as a symbolic tribute to the artist, who died shortly after creating this piece of art.
Museum of Ancient Sunken Ships
This museum is relatively new (opened in 2019) and not very well known. It exhibits the results of twenty years of work by archaeologists and divers searching for ships at the bottom of the sea.
Almost 5,000 square meters are occupied by 8,000 exhibits from excavations in the San Rossore Regional Park area. As well as seven Roman boats dating from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD. The main pearls of the collection are four boats that were raised from the depths of the sea almost undamaged.
In addition to the ships, you can see personal belongings of the crew and passengers, numerous fragments of ceramics, children’s toys, clothes and even the remains of a deceased sailor with his dog.
Timetable and tickets – on the website of the museum.
Taste Italian cuisine
When deciding what to do in Pisa for a day, don’t forget to plan time to eat! Italy is home to some of the world’s finest flavors, and the food in Pisa lives up to that reputation.
Savor a variety of traditional dishes without the tourist traps, and go to bed with a happy and full stomach.
Wander along the Arno River
After visiting all the main attractions, you can head to the Arno River for a beautiful and peaceful experience.
The Arno River, which also flows through the neighboring city of Florence, cuts through Pisa and offers incredibly stunning views.
A walk along the Arno River will take you past some iconic landmarks – for example this magnificent church Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina.
Conclusions on my visit to Pisa
Although Pisa is not as well-known as its neighbor Florence, I think it is a good place to start a road trip through Tuscany, or to start a trip to Florence. It can also be used as a final stop if you plan to rent a car at Pisa Airport. It is most convenient to do this so as not to overpay for returning the car at another location (this is at least 50-70 euros).
To spend the night in Pisa after arriving – it is most convenient to do it in the city center, but in a way that does not get into the ZTL zone, which I wrote about above. I advise you to do it near the train station, where you can park your car in a paid parking lot.
- Vespucci Domus – There is a paid city parking lot near the hotel..
- The Rif – Boutique Hotel – is close to the tower, and there is parking nearby.
- Alla Torre Con Vista – There is a large parking lot nearby, and the center is a 5-minute walk away.
Useful Articles and Links:
- Rome – What to See in Three Days in the Italian Capital
- Summer vacation on European lakes
- Beaches of Tropea – cheap vacation in Italy
- Verona – what to do in the most romantic city in Italy
Travel medical insurance with discounts can be purchased from HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment bookings – Booking.com
Rent a car – Rentalcars
Trains tickets – Trainline
