Pisa… leaning tower and that’s it, right? While many tour-bus travellers get off, take a picture, eat a slice of overpriced greasy pizza and get back on-board, Pisa is a Tuscan city that will reward those that linger, especially those in a campervan rental. It is a university town, on the river Arno, surrounded by film-star quality countryside. On your Italian motorhome adventure, take some time and get to know the real city of Pisa.
Compare brands on Pisa Motorhome Hire
Choosing the right motorhome to hire on your excursion to Pisa couldn’t be simpler with Motorhome Republic. Start on our comprehensive website, or download our mobile app if you are already on the move. You need to put some simple details into our search engine, such as pick-up city, travel dates and driver’s age. From there, you will be rewarded with every available camper, from local operators to global companies. Compare the specifications and prices easily and get exactly the features you need. Once you have made your choice, you can book securely online, or call one of our multi-lingual motorhome experts. Our customers have booked more than 100,000 road-trips worldwide: check out their genuine feedback on independent review site, Trustpilot.
Road Trips from Pisa
There is an international airport in Pisa. From there to Florence is a little over an hour of driving time. You can continue to explore corners of Tuscany or get on the autostrade and head to Rome. Alternatively, you can head North to Genoa, Milan and Turin.
Where to stay in Pisa
Camping Village Torre Pendente is less than a kilometre from the tower and 400 metres to the train station. The camp has a separate area for motorhome parking and a restaurant, bar and mini-market.
Food and Drink in Pisa
Traditional cuisine can be found away from the well-trodden tourist paths. Osteria Bernardo is in the Piazza San Paolo all’Orto, one of the prettiest squares in Pisa. An Osteria is a tavern, but this place is a bit above pub-grub. Try their beef carpaccio marinated in cocoa or a main course of short pasta, baby octopus and zucchini flowers. Or, try La Grotta, a cavernous restaurant serving old fashioned Tuscan favourites. Their menu is simple, but changes often to accommodate fresh, seasonal produce. The food is so good, you may decide to park up your Pisa campervan rental for another night!
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What to see and do in Pisa
Okay, so yes, there is that tower, which is pretty phenomenal really. It is located in the Square of Miracles and is a fine example of Pisan-Romanesque architecture with a grey and white marble façade. Also in the square is the Baptistery, Cathedral and Monumental Cemetery, therefore representing the circle of life. The short story of why the tower leans is that the ground was too soft to support the weight of the construction. The longer story is an epic tale of a building left unfinished for over 100 years, while various wars were fought, and that enabled the tower to settle so construction eventually continued. Engineers of the time employed many different tactics to ensure the tower did get finished with its famous lean. Be sure to climb to the top for spectacular views, but do yourself a favour and buy the tickets online before time.
Back in the city, follow the Lungarno Mediceo along the Arno River to see Medici Palace. You will hear a lot about the Medicis when travelling in Tuscany - they were a banking family, who became a political dynasty and ruled Florence for a time. The Palace is also known as the Palazzo Vecchio (the name of any town’s main square) where the main civic building is found. A few more steps and you are at the Borgo Stretto, a tiny medieval road with open galleries and quaint stores which feels like a step back in time.
Driving Tips for Pisa
Heavily congested cities, or those with a huge tourist attraction such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, have ‘no traffic’ zones, or ‘ZTL’s , zona a traffico limitato. They are not always clearly signposted and often the infringement notices don’t arrive until months after visitors go home. Pay attention to all signage and try to keep parking to metered spaces. Better still, leave the motorhome rental at the campsite and shuttle, or get public transport into Pisa.
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