History The town was a Neolithic settlement and an important Etruscan center with an original civilization; it became a municipium in the Roman Age. The city was a bishop's residence in the fifth century and its episcopal power was affirmed during the twelfth century. With the decline of the episcopate, Volterra was the subject of the interest of Florence, which defeated Volterra many times though rebellions sometimes took place.

Main sights

Roman theatre (1st century BC), excavated in the 1950s.

• Piazza dei Priori, one of Italy's most beautiful squares.
• Palazzo dei Priori
• Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. It was enlarged in the 13th century after an earthquake. It houses a ciborium and some angles by Mino da Fiesole, a notable wood Deposition (1228), a masterwork of Romanesque sculpture and the Sacrament Chapel, with paintings by Santi di Tito, Giovanni Balducci and Agostino Veracini. In the center of the vault are fragments of an Eternal Father by Niccolò Circignani. Also noteworthy is the Addolorata Chapel, with a terracotta group attributed to Andrea della Robbia and a fresco of Riding Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli. In the nearby chapel, dedicate to the Very Holy Name of Jesus, is a table with Christ's monogram, allegedly painted by Bernardine of Siena. The rectangular bell tower is from 1493.
• Medicean Fortress (Maschio)
• Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, with thousands of funeral urns dating back to the Hellenistic and Archaic periods.

Outside the city, in direction of Lajatico, is the Medici Villa di Spedaletto. Also in the neighborhood, in the Valle Bona, area, are excavations of Etruscan tombs.
  

Pisa is best known for the world famous Leaning Tower, but those who come here with their mind already made up that the Tower is the only thing to see here may miss the other architectural and artistic marvels of this beautiful city. The long walk from the Campo dei Miracoli to the train station is along a pedestrian mall with many interesting sights, shops, and restaurants. Pisa is also quite a safe city. You won't need to worry about your property or person (but if you stay in a very cheap hotel take your valuables with you).

The Piazza dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is to the north of central Pisa and contains its most famous sights:

• Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente). Originally the cathedral's bell tower, construction began in 1173 and began leaning due to subsidence of the ground underneath it soon after. A project to keep the tower from leaning more and tipping over finally reached a successful conclusion in 2001, and the tower is again open to those wishing to climb it. Climbing the tower requires a reservation based ticket for 15 Euro. Expect 45 minutes to 2 hour wait, but there is lots to see while you wait. It is better if you buy tickets online for 17 Euro well in advance at.
• Duomo di Pisa, the splendid Cathedral, contains artwork by Giambolna, Dela Robbia, and others. Fine Romanesque style with double aisles and cupola, huge apse mosaic partly by Cimabue, and fine pulpit by Giovanni Pisano in late Gothic / early Renaissance style.
• Baptistry large round Romanesque dome with more sculptured decorations and a fine view up top; climb this if you want a great view with the Leaning Tower visible in your photos. Arabic-style pavement, pulpit by Nicola Pisano (father of Giovanni), and fine octagonal font.
• Campo Santo a huge cemetery building with much interesting art, including a collection of ancient Roman sculptures and splendid pre-Renaissance murals by the "Master of the Triumph of Death".
• Museo del Opera del Duomo has sculptures and paintings formerly in the Pisa Cathedral. Some of the more unusual are bronze griffins from Syria captured by the Crusaders.
• Museo delle Sinopie Skipped over by many visitors, this museum is a treat for art lovers. After WWII many of the surviving murals and pieces of murals from Pisa's Campo Santo were detached from the walls to try to preserve them. It was unexpectedly discovered that the artist sketches underneath survived. These were moved to this museum.
• Santa Maria della Spina small Gothic church built to house a thorn from Jesus's crown
• Piazza dei Cavalieri old town square with a famous elitary school (Scuola Normale Superiore) with elaborate facade
• Lungarno Mediceo
• Santo Sepolcro Romanesque octagonal church with conical spire by Diotisalvi, who also built the baptistery - a Templar church, striking and forceful fine Romanesque churches - San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea - not all are open every day
• Museo di San Matteo, piazza San Matteo, 1, lungarno Mediceo Tel. +39 050 541865
• Keith Haring mural
• Ussero Café founded on 1775, lungarno Pacinotti 27, www.ussero.com

It is a monument to Italian culture in the 1400's Palazzo Agostini, on Lungarno. In 1839, it was seat of the meetings of the first Italian Congress of Scientists.

Pisa is divided into 4 historical quarters. There is much more than the Leaning Tower in the city and several different walking itineraries are possible.
  

Produced through the hand harvest of cultivar typical of Pisan hills (frantoio, leccino, pendolino, moraiolo), generally carried out between the end of October and the half of Novermber, Pieve de’ Pitti Extra Virgin Olive Oil, has a mellow green colour kinding golden reflexes that become gradually deeper. The low yield per plant and the low temperature milling assure an excellent olive fruity smell, fragrant and fine taste, with nice spicy notes that match both with meat and with raw dishes.