Pisa beyond the Leaning Tower

A stone's throw from the station there is a huge mural by Keith Haring: "Tuttomondo", one of the few works by the American writer that you can admire in Italy. Painted in 1989 on the external wall of the church of Sant'Antonio Abate, with the help of some students, it’s a veritable explosion of vibrant colors. The thirty figures dancing on the wall symbolize world peace and harmony, and indeed bring great joy to you.

A short walk from Ponte di Mezzo, Palazzo Blu, the ancient noble palace located on the Lungarn, is a must. in addition to hosting a permanent collection of works of art, always organizes very interesting temporary exhibitions. Past shows have included retrospectives dedicated to Picasso, Chagall, Andy Warhol, Escher and reportages about historical events like the 1966 flood and the turbulent year of 1968.

To truly savout the life of the city, take a walk in Piazza delle Vettovaglie, in the heart of the historic center, where a noisy and colorful fruit and vegetable market is held every day. This is also the right place to taste some of Pisa’s specialities, like Torta co’ bischeri, a tart made with rice, cocoa, raisins and candied fruit, the risotto with San Miniato white truffles and the Mucco Pisano, a type of beef that is only bred around Pisa, cooked, cooked in stew and flavored with black pepper.

There must be something special in the air at Pisa, or more likely in the ground, as the Leaning Tower is not the only one that fails to be straight. There are two other tilting towers in the city and curiosity hunters absolutely cannot ignore them! The first one belongs to the Church of San Nicola, unique not only for its octagonal shape, but also because it has slightly tilted over the centuries. But the most surprising is the one of the church of San Michele degli Scalzi, in the Piagge: a bell tower that leans conspicuously towards the Arno.

Finally, a short distance from the city, lies a natural paradise, the Estate of San Rossore, within the Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli Park, which includes the impressive stables of the Savoy family and extends as far as the sea, stretching across vast meadows, oak forests, landscapes, lakes, pine trees, reeds and dunes. A variety of habitats to be discovered on horseback or by carriage, to experience the thrill of spotting a roe deer or a wild boar.