South City

The south city, Mezzogiorno to the Pisans, is full of typical Italian flair with its narrow lanes along the Arno and its beautiful squares, the Corso Italia and the church Santa Maria della Spina.

In times gone by, mostly foreign traders set up their workshops and warehouses in this quarter, which is lay centrally to Pisa's port and the Roman trade road.

Piazza XX Settembre

The building at the Piazza XX Settembre, at the foot of the famous Arno bridge Ponte di Mezzo remains from this time. The halls of the former textile market, the Logge di Banchi from the 17th century, as well as the aristocratic Palazzo Mosca, adorn the area.

The most noticeable palace south of the Arno is the Palazzo Gambacorti however.

Palazzo Gambacorti

In the 15th century, it was used as the administrative seat and today still houses the city's town hall. Even though it has been renovated often, the palace has kept its Gothic facade.

A multicoloured stone facade faces the banks of the Arno with Gothic windows, archways, pillars and various coats of arms.

Corso Italia in Pisa

The square's extension continues on to the magnificent shopping mile Corso Italia, where time has not passed by unnoticed.

Together with the Borgo Stretto, the Corso Italia is the main shopping street in the city. In the Middle Ages, countless religious buildings could be found here. Today only a few palaces line the Corso.

The street, which is popular with younger people especially, runs in a straight line, into the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II at the train station. Lively cafes can be found in the side streets, Pisa is a student city after all.

Santa Maria della Spina

The Gothic marble chapel on the banks of the Arno was named after a fantastic relic. A thorn (spina) from the crown of Christ, which crusaders brought back to their home city, is said to be embedded here.

The interior houses works of Pisa's most famous artists from the 14th century, for example the statue of Madonna with Child by Pisano.

At the time it was built, the small church stood on the riverbed of the Arno. It threatened to collapse and was rebuilt on the banks of the river in 1871.

Palaces on the riverbanks

If you follow the banks of the Arno, you can stroll along streets that are flanked by picturesque lanes, imposing palaces from the 16th and 17th century and towers.

Fortezza Nuova with Giardino Scotto

The so-called new fortress on the southern banks of the Arno was strengthened by the then Florentine owners and made into an impressive bulwark.

In the 18th century the noble family Rosselmini-Scotto had the Fortezza Nueva turned into a garden. Today the park Giardino Scotto is open to the public and is the perfect place to relax.

Modern art by Keith Haring

Pop fans will enjoy the over dimensional graffiti by the American artist Keith Harig. The 180 square metre mural takes up the entire wall of the monastery Sant'Antonio, which borders on the church of the same name, which was heavily damaged in the Second World War.

The graffiti Tuttomondo with its stick figures, which are typical of Haring, were sprayed by the artist in 1989 in less bright colours than normal.

San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno

Following the Arno, you reach the church San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, which is thought to be one of the oldest in the city and has a beautiful courtyard. Even though it is much smaller, the 12th century building has many architectural similarities with the Dome of Pisa.

The facade is made of striped marble, arcades and three portals, archways and a dome. The interior of the church was badly damaged during the Second World War, but is still a sight to be seen.

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