What Does Pisa Have Besides The Famous Tower?

Pisa is one of the great monumental cities of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is a world-class tourist focus thanks to the presence of its Leaning Tower, however the Pisan old town has many other attractive places, full of history and art.

It is clear that the Tower of Pisa is its great tourist emblem. No matter how much it has been seen on television or in books,  travelers do not cease to be amazed when they find themselves at its base and appreciate its impressive 4 degree incline, which means that its cusp at more than 55 meters, is almost deflected. four meters from the base.

However, despite this threat of collapse, it maintains its balance since its construction phase, back in the 12th century. A characteristic that makes it unique and a tourist attraction in which all visitors look for the most suitable photographic frame to simulate that they are holding it.

However, once that photo is taken, there are many other things to do and what to see in Pisa. Here are some of them.

The Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa

The Leaning Tower itself is part of the most monumental area of ​​Pisa. In fact, the tower is actually the bell tower of the Cathedral, a medieval building before whose facade the Baptistery rises. Precisely between the Cathedral and the Baptistery is the so-called Piazza dei Miracoli or Square of Miracles, which continues with the surface of the Camposanto.

All of this is an impressive architectural and artistic ensemble, listed by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Pisa Cathedral

The Cathedral or the Duomo is the main church in the city of Pisa. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, since it began to be built in the 11th century in the Romanesque style. All that style predominates in its impressive exterior. But the surprises increase when entering the interior of the church.

There it is discovered that everything is covered in black and white marble  and that the roof is a golden roof that leads to a large dome full of frescoes.

But in addition, in the chapels and altars works of art of different styles accumulate. From Byzantine-inspired mosaics to high-quality sculptures such as the famous pulpit carved by Giovanni Pisano in the 14th century.

The Baptistery of Pisa

The Baptistery of Saint John the Baptist is the largest in Italy, and as is customary in many regions of this country, it is a separate building from the churches exclusively intended to celebrate baptisms.

It was built a few years after the Duomo, in the 12th century. It is surprising for its impressive dome with a circumference of more than 100 meters and it is world famous for the sculptures it hoards inside, especially for the pulpit made by Nicolá Pisano in the 13th century, the father of the author of the cathedral pulpit.

The Cemetery

This is the least known area of ​​the Square of Miracles in Pisa, however it is enormously interesting, since in this cemetery you can discover a large number of sculptures and sarcophagi from Roman times.

Other monumental churches of Pisa

The historical and artistic heritage of Pisa does not end at Piazza dei Miracoli. There is much more, especially in the form of churches. The small temple of Santa María della Spina, in Gothic style, stands out. A building that is at the same time a work of architectural and sculptural art due to its many decorative elements carved in stone.

There are many other interesting churches in the historic center of Pisa  and among all of them you can take a succulent artistic route going to Santa Caterina, San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno, San Estefano dei Cavalieri, San Michele in Borgo or San Nicolá.

The Plaza dei Cavalieri

If the Square of Miracles is the most famous place in Pisa, secondly, we should mention the Piazza dei Cavalieri or the Square of the Knights. If the first has a religious character, this is much more civil in scope, but equally monumental.

In fact, its location coincides with the original Roman forum, so the most official buildings have always been found here. This is how it is today, as the Renaissance architecture of the Carovana Palace and the Clock Palace still stand in this square, in front of which the statue of Cosimo I de Medicis stands.

In short, Pisa is much more than its Leaning Tower. It is a Tuscan city that deserves a leisurely stroll through its historic streets, contemplating interesting works of art that range from the Middle Ages to the Baroque.

And between visits, you always have to reserve time to enter the many restaurants, where the most varied menus are offered. Much more than pasta and pizza, since the local gastronomy is rich in meat and fish, both from the river and the sea, because Pisa is less than half an hour away from the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.