Welcome to Pisa!

The city of Pisa, located on the sea level along a bend of the Arno river, was an important naval base already during Roman times. Around the XI century it intensified its trade on the Mediterranean, obtaining a certain kind of supremacy thanks to its fleets that won numerous victories against many ships of the Muslim cities. The period of major economical, political and cultural splendour coincided with the Middle Ages and still today urban assets of that time can be seen in the historic centre, such as the squares, the churches and the characteristic narrow alleyways that run perpendicular to the banks of the Arno, that for many centuries were the main roads for communication and trade. You can also admire the wonderful walls that surround the city. Their construction began in 1154 and ended around the XIV century. The period of the Crusades was another occasion to strengthen the trade over the entire area of the Mediterranean to expand the political power just like with Corsica and Sardinia. Pisa’s slow decline occurred with the defeat by their rival Genoa during the famous battle fought on the banks of the Meloria in 1284. Subsequently the city passed from one government to another through cruel and bloody fights until, in 1406, it came under the power of Florence thus beginning long years of crisis that ended only with the ascent to power of the Medici family that brought the city towards an economical and cultural recovery making it become the most important city in all of Tuscany after Florence.