Most of us have heard of the iconic leaning tower, but what about everything else? There is a sizeable city here, but I rarely hear of anyone talking about it. What I do hear from time to time, a sentiment that comes across my social media, is that its ‘underrated’. Is the City of Pisa an underrated tourist destination? Let me show you what I saw and how I felt.
A Little Info
The population of the City of Pisa is around 90,000 and of the province, 420,000. Pisa is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Built in 1343, it is where Galileo studied. Current day Pisa has more university students than anywhere else in Italy. Roughly 70,000 at any given time, 50,000 alone at the UofPisa. The city is very lively and youthful, a reflection of its almost constant student population.
Down the centre of the city is one main pedestrian only thoroughfare. This is where most of the tourists are to be found. It is a vibrant shopping district and fun place to walk.
This wide avenue leads directly to the Arno River, a vital part of the city’s past. Most of the Renaissance palaces and historical churches are dotted along this portion of the river.
Architecture
Pisa is a melting pot of architecture that stems from its history of being a maritime republic. The mixture of styles is the aspect that I found the most interesting about the city. I couldn’t help but walk around in wonder, at the different structures, their building materials and aesthetics.
Arno River
The heart of the city is this river; the same one as flows through Florence. Here is where ancient trade has taken place for over one thousand years. Taking a stroll up and down either side and taking in the endless views is a beautiful way to absorb the city.
Here is where you will see the most varied architecture as it’s the location of many of the renaissance palaces.
Piazza dei Cavalieri
A large public square stands out from all of the others and is known as the Knights Square. Historically it has been the political centre of the city and in the 16th, century became the home of the Order of the Knights of St. Steven. Images of that red cross instantly remind me of Malta.
The piazza is surrounded by palaces that have been converted into a university. With a large fountain at the centre, this space is truly unique to Pisa.
Streets
Now we get to the crux of where my admiration for Pisa begins to falter. Remain on the large central street that runs from the train station to the river and it looks and feels like other Italian cities of similar size.
However, wander even one street away in some instances, and things take a stark turn. I have never seen so many destitute people anywhere else in Italy. Walking down graffiti laden streets, void of any other people and the feelings I get are unease.
The stench of human urine is overwhelming. If you know what to look for, there are telltale signs everywhere of big city grit. To see people hiding in alleys, rifling through bags they have just stolen from tourists is alarming.
Feelings
I rely a lot on my inherent feelings in every destination I visit. As a solo female traveller, these unconscious thoughts and actions keep me safe and alert. When I am in a constant state of anxiety, guarding my purse against my body, holding onto my phone with both hands, these are all clues that what my brain is seeing, it is uncomfortable with.
The historical parts of Pisa are charming by day; however, I was definitely not feeling as safe as I do in most other destinations. My guard was up for the entire time I was in the city. For me personally, this is not an underrated destination for a lengthy stay.
I would definitely encourage everyone to visit Pisa. Besides the Square of Miracles with the Leaning Tower, there are many more things to see. Over 25 churches, multiple museums and a collection of architecture that will amaze you. As far as a place to stay for a longer time, it is not a good fit for me personally. I need to feel safe and surrounded by beauty and I just don’t get either of those from Pisa.
