Pisa on foot, from the heart of the city
Hotel Alessandro Della Spina is just 300 metres from Pisa Centrale station, in a perfect spot to explore the city without ever taking the car. From here the Lungarni, Piazza dei Cavalieri and the Leaning Tower are all within a pleasant walk. Here is what to see and do in Pisa, with real distances from the hotel and a few practical tips.
Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli 1.6 km · 20 min walk
The city’s ultimate symbol. In Piazza dei Miracoli you will find four white-marble masterpieces: the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Monumental Camposanto, plus the Sinopie Museum and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, about a 20-minute walk from the hotel.
The Lungarni and Santa Maria della Spina just steps away
The banks of the Arno, the Lungarni, are among the most beautiful walks in Pisa: colourful palaces, historic bridges and photo-worthy views at every turn. Right on the riverside stands the Church of Santa Maria della Spina, a Gothic gem that gives our hotel its name. In June the Lungarni light up with the Luminara di San Ranieri (16 June), a spectacle of thousands of candles.
Piazza dei Cavalieri 12 min walk
The Renaissance heart of Pisa, once the centre of political power. Here stand the Palazzo della Carovana, frescoed by Vasari and home to the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore, and the church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. An elegant, less crowded square, perfect to soak up student-town Pisa.
Borgo Stretto and shopping 10 min walk
Borgo Stretto is the arcaded street of shopping and city life: boutiques, workshops and historic cafés such as Caffè dell’Ussero. From here you easily reach Piazza delle Vettovaglie and the market, ideal for an aperitivo or to taste Pisan cuisine.
Museums: San Matteo and Palazzo Blu
For art lovers, the National Museum of San Matteo holds masterpieces of the Pisan Middle Ages and Renaissance, while Palazzo Blu on the Lungarni hosts major temporary exhibitions of international standing. Both are about 10-12 minutes’ walk from the hotel; opening hours and current exhibitions on palazzoblu.it.
Nearby: day trips from Pisa
The hotel’s location, 300 m from the station, makes Pisa a perfect base to explore Tuscany and the coast on day trips, often by train:
- Lucca — the city of walls, about 30 minutes by train.
- Florence — museums and the Renaissance, about 1 hour by train.
- Cinque Terre — the seaside villages, between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 by train.
- Marina di Pisa and the San Rossore Park — beach and nature a few kilometres away, by bus or car.
Getting around Pisa
The old town is easily explored on foot: from the hotel you reach all the main sights in 10-20 minutes. For Galileo Galilei Airport (1.2 km) the fastest way is the PisaMover people mover, connecting the Central Station to the airport in about 5 minutes. Regional and high-speed trains depart from Pisa Centrale, 300 m from the hotel; city and intercity buses are run by Autolinee Toscane.