Attractions in Italy

There are many reasons that tourists travel in their droves to visit the beautiful region of Tuscany in Italy – but while there, its no surprise that many of them ‘lean’ towards the gorgeous city of Pisa. And not just for the tower! Yes, the famous leaning structure is the immediate iconic image that springs to mind when the city of Pisa is mentioned – but there is so much beauty and class in this city that to reduce it to just one of its spectacular sights is unfair.

With the city’s Galileo Galilei Airport served by many low cost budget airlines running cheap flights in and out of the city, it is little wonder that Pisa is a massively popular city break destination – perfect for thrifty trips and budget breaks.

Things to see/do in Pisa:

Right then, first thing’s first – get your sightseeing tour of the Leaning Tower of Pisa out of the way. The famous tower can be found, along with two more architectural marvels – the Baptistry and the Duomo – in the northwestern part of Pisa city. They all grace a square that is eloquently named the ‘Ciampo dei Miracoli’ (Field of Miracles), and with a name like that, who could resist a visit. The square and its surrounding architecture is exquisitely beautiful and extraordinarily famous, and as such the area is invariably heaving with camera-carrying tourists and opportunistic souvenir salespeople. We recommend a visit at dusk or early morning – not only is it quieter than during the day, but a glowing sunrise or sunset will add greatly to the already humbling beauty.

Entering the buildings during the day is quite cheap, and to keep a day’s sightseeing even more low cost invest in a combination ticket which offers a special discount rate into a few of the attractions. The tower is not included in this ticket, and will cost €15 to climb.

Beyond the field of miracles there is plenty to see in the city, most of it cheap enough for a thrifty day of sightseeing to help you stay within your budget. Wandering around Pisa is likely to result in symptoms similar to New York Neck – as you amble around the city you wont be able to help craning your neck to look up at the many gorgeous buildings. A boat trip along the Arno River offers a different and very pleasant perspective on Pisa’s architecture, one-hour tours are not too expensive.

Eating out/Nightlife in Pisa:

There is a large student presence in the city of Pisa, which means a proliferation of good, cheap restaurants catering to the rumbling tummies and tight budgets of the students. The Italian staples of pizza, pasta and polenta are widespread as is good quality seafood, and the best value can be found in the student areas of Piazza Dante and Piazza dei Cavalieri.

Pisa’s status as a university city means it has a vibrant nightlife with a superb selection of pubs and clubs, bars and restaurants, discos and live music venues. Check out the establishments along the banks of the Arno and near the Piazza Garibaldi – busy bars are full of Italians and tourists enjoying la dolce vita. The Verdi Theatre is a wonderful venue with 900 seats, and regularly hosts top quality theatre, opera, ballet and concerts.

Day Trips/Events in Pisa:

On the 17th of June every year Pisa celebrates the feast day of it’s patron saint with the San Ranieri Historical Regatta. The boat race draws a great many spectators watching oarsmen represent the four different areas of the city. It is the night before the event that is really worth being in Pisa for, however, with the famous ‘Luminara’ occurring. Thousands upon thousands of candles hung from buildings all over the city illuminate Pisa in a scene of uncommon beauty. Firework at midnight add spark to the affair, and the whole event is wonderfully atmospheric. Visiting the city at this time can be done just as cheaply as any other time – budgets wont suffer at all, but budget travelers will definitely prosper from the extra buzz around Pisa.