The best of Pisa: a sightseeing tour from Tuttomondo to the Leaning Tower

(99 reviews)

Pisa audio tour: The best of Pisa: a sightseeing tour from Tuttomondo to the Leaning Tower

This is a 1.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Pisa

Italy

$8.99

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About the Tour

Pisa is a captivating city with a rich history as a powerful medieval maritime republic. On this walking tour, you'll discover that Pisa offers much more than just its famous Leaning Tower. From vibrant street art to Renaissance squares, medieval tower houses, and university heritage, you'll explore the diverse architectural and cultural treasures that make this Tuscan gem special.

The tour starts at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, where you'll see the Tuttomondo mural by Keith Haring, one of his few permanent works. You'll stroll through Corso Italia, the city's main shopping street, and cross the Arno River, which was vital to Pisa's development as a major Mediterranean naval power. Along the way, you'll learn about Kinzica, the young heroine who saved the city from Saracen invaders, and discover how the Medici family transformed Pisa after conquering it in the 16th century.

You'll visit beautiful squares like Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza dei Cavalieri, see one of the last remaining medieval tower houses, and explore the university district that gives the city its youthful energy. The tour ends at the magnificent Square of Miracles, where the Cathedral, Baptistery, Monumental Cemetery, and of course, the Leaning Tower stand as testament to Pisa's former glory and artistic achievement.

On this 75-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

See Keith Haring's Tuttomondo mural, one of his final and few permanent works, created in 1989 as a tribute to universal peace
Cross the historic Ponte di Mezzo and enjoy spectacular views along the Arno River that once powered Pisa's maritime empire
Visit Piazza delle Vettovaglie, a charming square that has served as a market since the Medici era
Marvel at one of only two remaining medieval tower houses from the thousands that once dominated Pisa's skyline
Explore Piazza dei Cavalieri, the transformed medieval civic center that became headquarters for the Knights of Saint Stephen
Learn about Pisa's three prestigious universities, including the elite Scuola Normale Superiore with its 14% admission rate
Discover the centuries-old rivalry between Pisa and Florence, symbolized in monuments throughout the city
Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Square of Miracles with its four masterpieces of Pisan Romanesque architecture

This tour will reveal the authentic character of Pisa beyond its famous tilting tower, showing you how this university town balances its glorious maritime past with its vibrant present. Comfortable walking shoes recommended!

Tour Producer

Andrea - DiscoveryPisa

3 tours

Hi, I’m Andrea – Founder of Discovery Pisa and Official Tour Guide

I’m originally from Madrid, Spain, but my journey with Pisa started in 2008 when I came here for a year of study through the Erasmus program. As soon as I arrived, I fell in love with this city—its beauty, history, and the vibrant atmosphere of daily life. After finishing my studies, I decided to stay in Pisa, and that decision changed my life forever.

I knew I wanted to share my newfound love for this city, so I took the step to become a licensed tour guide in 2012. After receiving my qualification, I was inspired to create Discovery Pisa. My goal was to give everyone the chance to explore Pisa with an expert guide—because before we came along, the only options for a guided tour were either private tours or pre-organized group trips. I wanted to open up a new world of experiences for independent travelers who wanted to organize their own vacations but still have the opportunity to enjoy a local, insightful tour of the city.

Founding Discovery Pisa has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my life. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and it’s a true joy to be able to share Pisa’s wonders with people from all around the world. I’m also incredibly grateful to work alongside an amazing team, including my wonderful partner Anastasia, who helps make Discovery Pisa a fantastic company.

I’m so happy to do this job every day, and I can’t wait to continue sharing my love for Pisa with all of you!

Preview Location

Location 15

Piazza dei Cavalieri

Welcome to Piazza dei Cavalieri, one of the most beautiful and representative places in Pisa. Please walk to the centre of the square, where you'll have a great view all around you.

Do you remember when we were talking about the conquest of the Medici and all the transform... Welcome to Piazza dei Cavalieri, one of the most beautiful and representative places in Pisa. Please walk to the centre of the square, where you'll have a great view all around you.

Do you remember when we were talking about the conquest of the Medici and all the transformations they made in the city? Well, this square is without a doubt their biggest and most important public work in Pisa.

We are in what was the seat of the political power of the city during medieval times. The square was transformed in the 1500s, and given the appearance that you see at the moment, it becomes the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen. This was a military and religious order, like the Templars, the Knights of Malta ... well the same. It was very difficult to become a knight. The first thing you had to be a man, women, no thanks. Second you had to be over 18 years old. Third, you had to prove that you had not stolen or killed. You couldn't have money debts. And the last but not the least, you had to belong to a noble family for at least three generations, as you see, very easy! If you met all those requirements, then you had to do 3 years of training, where they were taught to fight and where they studied.

The great building that dominates the square with the sculpture in front and that has six busts on top, is the Palazzo della Carovana, where these three years of training were held and current seat of the Scuola Normale Superiore, you can read the name right above the door.

The Squola Normale Superiore is a university of excellence, for geniuses we could consider it. Entering this university is very difficult. It has one of the lowest admission rates in the world at only 14%, think of Harvard or Yale where around 35% are admitted. If you pass the admission test, to avoid being thrown into the street, you have to maintain a very high average. In Italy the grades in the university range from 0 to 30, with 18 being the minimum to pass the exam. If you want to be in this university, the average you have to maintain is 27, which is equivalent to 96/100. As I said before, it is for geniuses. Several Nobel Prize winners have studied here.

And now I want you to look at the statue in the middle of the square. It represents Cosimo I dei Medici, the one who conquered Pisa definitively in 1509. To talk to you about this statue, I have to tell you about the enmity between Pisa and Florence. Yes, these cities hate each other to the death, even today. This is because when Florence finally conquered Pisa in 1509, after four centuries of trying, they decided to make it clear, that now in the city, they were in charge. And they did it with symbols like this statue. The conqueror Cosimo I has the foot, crushing the head of a dolphin. This dolphin represents the power of Pisa in the Mediterranean Sea. They wanted to represent Florence that crushes the power of Pisa. Imagine the Pisans that every day they had to go through this square and see the statue.

Now with the statue in front of you, take the street to your left, Via Corsica, I'll meet you there. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Tuttomondo (Keith Haring)
Logge dei Banchi
Ponte di Mezzo
Piazza Garibaldi
Piazza delle Vettovaglie
Torre del Campano
Piazza dei Cavalieri
Palazzo della Carovana
Tower of Pisa
Piazza dei Miracoli

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
P.za V. Emanuele II, 56125 Pisa PI, Italy
Total distance

2km
Final location
Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
Distance back to start location

1km

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 56125 Pisa PI, Italy. If you came by car use the name of the square in your GPS, there is a parking right under the square. If you came by train, just go outside of the train station and keep walking, the first square you find, that's the start point.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Ill suggest to make an stop at piazza Garibaldi. You are at middle of the tour and in one of the most beautiful places. On the audio tour I give you some suggestions to take drink or eat something.

Best time of day

You can do this tour at any time but during the summer between 13 and 16 are the hottest hours of the day and with less spaces in the shade.

Precautions

Pisa is a touristic city so, as always, keep a look into your belongs. Avoid to do the tours after midnight.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”