Pisa has always been a tourist destination the main attractions of which sum up to a plethora of cathedrals and churches, museums and historic edifices, but what is genuinely convenient about this Tuscan city is it manages to amass into a very compact area most of these landmarks. This feature is an extremely appreciable particularity, since it enhances the efficiency of one’s stay in Pisa. Thus, the main tourist hotspots in Pisa refer to Piazza del Duomo and to the Piazza dei Cavalieri.

Cathedral’s Square - Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral’s Square), also referred to as Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) and Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is, in fact, the one which keeps Pisa breathing from a tourist point of view, standing out as the main point of reference when it comes to orientation in Pisa. This square has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage do to the fact it hosts four of the most valuable objectives in the entire Pisa, objectives which, besides their tourist relevance, are primarily religious edifices. The one to overlook the entire piazza is, obviously, the Pisa Cathedral itself (Duomo), a major structure which has had a great impact on the entire architectural destiny of Pisa since the beginning of its construction (late 11th century). Historically and architecturally speaking, the second most interesting objective is the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa which, in fact, has been servicing as campanile for the Cathedral. But, by far, from a tourist perspective, this is, in some cases, the very symbol of Pisa, overshadowing the other structures in the Piazza del Duomo in particular and in Pisa in general. The Baptistery is yet another noteworthy religious edifice which is worth ticking off once in the Field of Miracles, and Camposanto, too, makes quite an attraction given its historic trajectory. Complementing the tourist offer in Piazza del Duomo, Museo delle Sinopie stands out as an edifice which preserves and makes available to the public some of the most valuable preliminary sketches of the frescoes which used to embellish various establishments in this Piazza, Camposanto in particular.

Knights Square - Piazza dei Cavalieri

Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knights Square) closely follows in significance Piazza del Duomo, its history as from the 16th century being chiefly related to the order to the Knights of St. Stephen, subsequently to a long period when Piazza dei Cavalieri used to be the hub of the political life of Pisa. The main buildings which yield the highlights of this Piazza refer to the Palazzo dei Cavalieri, otherwise called the Palazzo della Carovana, and the Palazzo del Collegio Puteano, both of these landmarks being related to the stay and to the activity of the Knights of St. Stephen in Pisa, the former having hosted the training grounds of this order, and the latter servicing as hostel for the students arriving from other regions of the country. Another noteworthy landmark in Piazza dei Cavaliei is the Palazzo dell’Orologio, the history of which had sadly been marked by the torments of Count Ugolino and of his family. The Church of Santo Stefano counts too as a part of the assets of Piazza dei Cavalieri, but while at it, tourists should also consider visiting the Statue of Cosimo I which, for that matter, could not be overlooked, since it stands right in front of the Palazzo dei Cavalieri. Nowadays, Piazza dei Cavalieri is a cultural center of Pisa, given Palazzo dei Cavalieri now hosts the so called Scuola Normale Superiore, and is has been servicing this education institution since early 19th century. As a further feature relevant as far as tourists are concerned, Piazza dei Cavalieri is directly linked to the famed Borgo Stretto, one of the main thoroughfares of Pisa in terms of shopping opportunities.

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