Florence to Pisa Day Trip 2026

PISA - THE SQUARE OF MIRACLES

When you arrive in Pisa, your tour guide will take you to see the 'Piazza dei Miracoli' or the 'Square of Miracles'. Its official name is 'Piazza del Duomo', but the famous Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzio wrote an influential novel in which he coined the phrase 'Piazza dei Miracoli', and the name stuck. Why he gave that special name will be clear to anyone who visits!

SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA CATHEDRAL - THE PISAN ROMANESQUE

On this day trip to Pisa, you will see prime examples of the so-called Pisan Romanesque architecture style. The style emerged as a by-product of the construction of the cathedral. It incorporates different influences from across the medieval Mediterranean area, such as Byzantine and Islamic elements, with Roman-Christian architecture. If you want to see some examples, notice the long rows of blind arches, the use of decorative ceramics, and diamond-shaped ornaments on the exterior walls of the cathedral. It was built in the late 11th century by Buscheto, an Italian architect, using the spoils of war gained from the Emirate of Sicily. Use your free time on this tour to admire the stunning beauty of the Pisa Cathedral!

THE ICONIC LEANING TOWER OF PISA

After that, admire the structure synonymous with Pisa - the iconic Leaning Tower! It's unusual, it's crazy-looking, and at first glance, it defies the laws of gravity. Unsurprisingly, there is an intriguing story behind its construction. In 1173, the foundations of the tower were laid, and work was progressing well. However, during the construction of the second floor, the tower began to tilt and sink into the ground. This was due to the unstable soil and a flawed design. The work was halted for almost a century because Pisa was continually engaged in wars with Florence, Lucca, and Genoa. In the meantime, the underlying soil settled, and the work continued in 1233. Various architects tried to correct the problem and compensate for the tilt by building upper floors with one side taller than the other. However, construction was halted yet again in the late 13th century after Pisa suffered a defeat in Genoa. The work was finally finished in 1372, when the bell chamber was added. If you so choose, you can go climbing the Leaning Tower or just take a photo, pretending you're keeping it from falling!

THE BAPTISTERY OF ST. JOHN

You will also have an opportunity to see the largest baptistery in all of Italy, the Pisa Baptistery of St. John. It was designed by Diotisalvi, an Italian architect active in Pisa during the 12th century. The construction lasted for more than two centuries and was finally completed in 1363. During that time period, architectural styles and fashions evolved and changed. As a result, the lower section of the structure features Romanesque style, while the upper sections feature Gothic style. Like the cathedral and the Leaning Tower, it was built using highly prized Carrara marble stone.