Pisa has a head start on many places, since most visitors to Italy already know its most famous landmark. But it would be a shame to stop at the Leaning Tower, because there's a lot more to this Tuscan city than one wonky bell tower. Many visitors treat Pisa as a quick stop on the way to or from Florence, but it deserves more than a rushed afternoon. Sitting close to the coast just south of Genoa, Pisa has a rich maritime history dating back to the 12th century, when it was one of the great naval powers of the Mediterranean.
The Leaning Tower is, understandably, still the star of the show, and it sits within the Piazza dei Miracoli alongside the equally striking Cathedral and Baptistery – together, they make up one of Italy's most photographed squares. We'd always recommend booking your tower climb in advance, as tickets are timed and often sell out well ahead of visiting, especially in summer. Just beyond the piazza, the Camposanto Monumentale is well worth a quiet half hour, a cloistered cemetery said to be filled with soil brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades.
Away from the main square, Pisa has a lovely, lived-in feel that's easy to miss if you only stop for a photo. Wander along the Arno river as it winds through the city, or lose yourself in Borgo Stretto, a warren of medieval streets lined with cafes, bookshops and market stalls. As a university city, Pisa has a young, buzzy energy too, and the food scene doesn't disappoint – think fresh pasta, Tuscan cured meats and a glass of local Chianti to wash it all down. Give Pisa more than an afternoon, and it'll happily return the favour.
