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About Pisa
Located on the Arno River, Pisa probably began as an Etruscan town. It became a Roman colony in 180 BC. and was an important Roman port. A Christian bishopric by AD 313, it flourished during the Middle Ages as the principal urban centre of Tuscany.
Pisa's participation in the Crusades made it a rival of Genoa and Venice. The Pisan fleet took part in the crusade urged by Popes Gregory VIII and, later, Clement III. In 1284, the navies of Genoa and Pisa met and this point marks the start of Pisa's decline.
With the arrival in Italy of Charles VIII, Pisa rebelled against their Florentine overlords, but in 1509 they were forced to surrender once again. Under the Medici Dynasty, Pisa enjoyed a rebirth. Cosimo I rebuilt the university, regulated the flow of rivers and founded the Sacred Military Order of the Knights of St. Stephen, with its headquarters in Pisa.
It became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Pisa look out over a recess in the Arno river, and has kept her urban layout intact, with all the churches, squares, and mediaeval houses.
Its cathedral, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and other attractions, make it a tourist destination. It is the site of the University of Pisa (founded 1343) especially renowned in the fields of Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science and the birthplace of Galileo.
Industry is closely connected to several large glass- and steel-making factories, textile works, drugs companies, and the tiling and packaging industry. Other industries on the rise are business and tourism.
Places to see
By far the best known sight in Pisa is the famous Leaning Tower which is one of many architecturally and artistically important structures in the city's Campo dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles, to the north of the old town center. The tower of Pisa was begun in 1173, as inscribed on a plaque carved at the entrance of this structure. It stands alongside the accompanying Cathedral, Baptistry and Monumental Cemetery.
The height of the tower is 56m (183ft) from the ground on the lowest side and 57m (186 ft) on the highest side. Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes. The tower has 294 steps.
Duomo di Pisa - The city's splendid Cathedral contains artwork by Giambologna, Cimabue and others.
Baptistry - The Baptistery, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, stands opposite the west end of the Duomo. The round Romanesque building was begun in the mid 12th century.
Knights' Square (Piazza dei Cavalieri), where the Palazzo della Carovana, with its awesome facade designed by Giorgio Vasari may be seen.
In the same place is the church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, also by Vasari. It had originally a single nave; two more were added in the 17th century.
The church of St. Francis, designed by Giovanni di Simone, built after 1276. In 1343 new chapels were added and the church was elevated. It houses works by Jacopo da Empoli, Taddeo Gaddi and Santi di Tito. In the Gherardesca Chapel are buried Ugolino della Gherardesca and his sons.
The Medici Palace, once a possession of the Appiano family, who ruled Pisa in 1392-1398. In 1400 the Medici acquired it, and Lorenzo de' Medici sojourned here.
The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), once of the Caetani patrician family. Here Galileo Galilei showed to Grand Duke of Tuscany the planets he had discovered with his telescope. The edifice was erected in 1559 by Baccio Bandinelli for Cosimo I de Medici, and was later enlarged including other palaces.
Palazzo Gambacorti, a Gothic building of the 14th century, is now the town hall. The interior shows frescoes boasting Pisa's sea victories.
Museo Nazionale di S. Matteo: exhibiting sculptures and painting from 12th century-15th century.
