Piazza delle Vettovaglie

Along with the locals, who live the city every day; you will go to the city's most popular and historic places and you will try the real "pisano" taste and flavors: starting from the typical rural Tuscan salamis and cheeses, to the traditional focaccia "cecina" (from Italian “ceci”: chickpeas), to conclude with an ice cream in one of the best ice-cream stores in the city. Within this food tour, you will have the opportunity to try the following specialties (according to the availability of raw ingredients, season and the chef’s choices): Cold meats from Tuscany : the famous tuscan cured meats along with a glass of fine red wine in the framework of one of the oldest wine bars of the city; Pici: pici are the traditional spaghetti from Tuscany. You will taste it in one of the oldest city restaurants Ribollita: another dish from the farmers’ tradition, wisely prepared in the same way for generations, in one of the most typical and lively trattoria in Pisa. Pisan breed stew: rich and traditional Pisan dish, to taste in one of the best local taverns! You will not be able to taste it anywhere else! Uccelletto style beans with sausage: intense and traditional tuscan dish prepared with cannellini beans, tomato sauce, sage and black pepper and served with the delicious tuscan sausage. Cecìna: very flat focaccia, obtained by mixing chickpea flour with water, salt and olive oil. Soft inside and crisp on the outside; a real must for every visit to Pisa! Gelato “Gourmet”: an ice cream made up of rare and uncommon tastes as a the result of careful research with local, fresh products.

Kick off the tour in Piazza dei Miracoli, a charming square where you will meet your guide. Take in the remarkable views of the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the monumental cemetery, and the famous Leaning Tower. Then, continue the tour by discovering the impressive architecture of the city which comes from the Florentine Romanesque period. Pass by the Baptistery of St. John which combines Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. Next, proceed to the relaxing Botanical Gardens which conserve medicinal herbs, exotic, and aquatic plants - some species of which no longer exist anywhere else in the world. After that, head over to Piazza dei Cavalieri and Palazzo della Carovana. Take time to observe the Palazzo dell' Orologio on the opposite side and Piazza Delle Vettovaglie, where the Borgo Stretto is present and made up of very busy shopping streets. Take advantage of many opportunities here to grab a bite to eat and have a drink during a quick break. Finally, continue to the Arno, proceeding en route to the Blue Palace, the building that belonged to the first Doge of Pisa. Conclude the tour here, filled with wonderful memories and a strong sense of what makes Pisa such a beautiful and unique city.

A 2 1/2-hour walking tour to get to know the city of Pisa in a calm and friendly atmosphere. Strolling through the historic center you will discover its history and admire the wonder of its architecture. Immersed in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, I will tell you fun and interesting legends and stories that have survived to the present day. During the tour you will learn how Pisa, which began as a Roman colony turned into a powerful and wealthy maritime republic. You will hear about its glory, its decline in the Middle Ages and how it evolved during the Renaissance. A powerful but tyrannical city, by the end of our tour you will understand why Pisa in the past was hated by all the cities of Tuscany. A hatred that in a goliardic way has come down to us. The tour starts from the Piazza dei Miracoli where we also find out how the name came about. I will tell you about the features of Europe's largest Baptistery and the stories that arose around its two-color roof. If you have time we can take a 20-minute tour inside the Baptistery. Entrance tickets are to be purchased on site and are not included in the price of the tour. We will then focus on the Duomo. I will tell you stories related to hidden details of its facade, unusual columns, inscriptions and strange signs. I will also tell you about superstitious customs that originated in the Middle Ages and are still alive among the people of Pisa. We will also visit the interior of the cathedral, which hides works of art such as Giovanni Pisano's Pulpit and Cimabue's mosaic of Christ on the Throne. Arriving at the great chandelier we will talk about the legends about the experiments Galilei conducted in the Duomo. We will then move on to the Leaning Tower, one of the most famous medieval monuments in the world. I will tell you about why the tower has tilted during its nine centuries of life, how it has been in danger of collapsing in recent decades, and what interventions have been done to stop the fall. The tower is actually a bell tower with seven bells; I will tell you about the Traitor's bell and when it last rang. After Piazza dei Miracoli we move to the Renaissance part of the city, we are going to see the beautiful Piazza dei Cavalieri, the legacy that the Medici dynasty left behind. Now home to the important Scuola Normale Superiore, many famous figures in contemporary Italian history have studied here. Next, we will walk through the narrow streets of Borgo Stretto, I will show you the house where Galileo Galilei was born and tell you the story of his life. We will also pass by Piazza delle Vettovaglie, an ancient market square, renovated by the Medici into a Renaissance cloister, now home to the stalls of the street market and bars and restaurants ideal for an aperitif or dinner with typical Pisan cuisine. For those with a sweet tooth, here you can also taste Torta coi Bischeri, a typical Pisan dessert made with shortcrust pastry and dried fruit. We finish our tour on the Ponte di Mezzo where we admire the extraordinary panorama of the Pisan Lungarno.