Pisa is a regular favorite in the heart of Tuscany located on the banks of the Arno River, and its location - ten kilometers from the Tyrrhenian Sea – made it an important maritime republic.
The town itself has a gritty air but the ornately carved buildings at its heart makes for an interesting visit.
The principal attractions are the Piazza del Duomo, a UNESCO world heritage site, the Cathedral built between 1063 and 1118 in Pisa's Romanesque style and, of course, the Leaning Tower, a twelfth-century freestanding bell tower which continues to defy gravity.