Travel Eye on Pisa (Italy)

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Overview:

Pisa is one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions due to its distinct style and culture, although this is the case its main draw card is ironically one of the worst architectural blunders ever made, famously known as the 'leaning tower of Pisa'. The leaning campanile attracts hordes of tourists and what was once an embarrassment of architecture now features dome of the most advanced architecture and technology from keeping the tower from falling. Although dominated by its campanile, Pisa is by no means a one attraction wonder, other equally notable attractions to the area include its long maritime legacy dating to 1000 BC, its famous university and its status as the birthplace and home of one of the world's greatest physicists and astronomer, Galileo Galilei.

Pisa also features one of the most beautiful squares in the world known as the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). It is here that the famous tower was erected, whose layers of heavy marble were built on a shifting subsoil foundation that has caused trouble for engineers for more than 800 years. Tourism in the area has for a long time been centred around the tower and until the last 20 years there has been a constant fear of the tower falling. The shifting sub soil has also made its mark on some of the other buildings, most notably San Michele dei Scalzi.

Another attraction not to be missed is the Museo delle Sinopie, containing a sketches from the frescoed cycle that decorated the walls of the Campo Santo cemetery and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in which exhibits of arabesque panels and Corinthian capitals reveal the influences of Rome and Islam on Pisan architects. The Museo Nazionale di San Matteo also featured here displays a range of Florentine art from the 12th through to the 17th centuries.

Locality:

The historic city centre of Pisa is concentrated on the north bank of the River Arno and is still surrounded by 12th-century walls. Rising 4 m. above sea level on the banks of the Arno river, on a fertile alluvial plain, this town is approximately 10 km. from the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Pisa plays a main role from an artistic point of view: here the renawal in architecture, in sculpture and painting anticipate the florentine movement of the renaissance: the famous Leaning tower of Pisa, castles, churches, monasteries, all scattered on the top of hills along the rivers and in the ancient streets. The natural and environmental heritage is particularly attractive: in the area you can visit the Natural Park of Migliarino- San Rosssore, Massaciuccoli, the Pisano Mountain, the Hills, the Coastline at Marina di Vecchiano, Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia The thermal baths are an attractive proposal too: Casciana Terme, Larderello , San Giuliano and Uliveto Terme . In its streets, squares, churches and palaces, Volterra maintains elements characteristic of different historical periods: from the Etruscans to the Romans from the Middle Age to the 18th century.

Pisa is without doubt one of the most interesting centres for shopping in Italy. Its variety of districts and streets provide shopper's with plenty of choice from quality Italian goods, jewellery, stylish clothes, typical italian food. The Borgo Stretto is one of Pisa's smartest shopping areas whilst the area's backstreets, where the locals in Pisa tend to shop offer a more original style of shopping.

Popular tourist attractions include:

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Campanile) - This one of the most famous landmarks in Italy. Building of the tower began in 1173 and while building the third gallery, it already began to lean over. Building of the tower was then stopped for almost a century, untill it was finaly completed in 1275. You have to see this famous tower with your own eyes.

Church of Santa Maria della Spina - The Church of Santa Maria della Spina is situated on the south bank of the river Arno, it was originally even closer to the river but was moved to its current position in 1871 due to fears of flooding. The church is Pisa's finest example of Gothic architecture.

Camposanto Vecchio - This historical site dates back to 1278 and was established as a museum in the early 19th century. It exhibits 14th and 15th century detached frescos, Roman sarcophagi, and statues, sculptures, tombstones, and Medieval and Renaissance architectural elements.