The Italian city of Pisa doesn’t complain about the lack of travellers. Indeed, people from all over the world come there to take pictures of the famous Leaning Tower. ‘Torre di Pisa’ is not the only leaning tower in the world but perhaps the most famous. So, it overshadows all other local attractions. 

As a result, many people mistakenly think that Pisa’s travel list includes only the tower, and come to see the city for only 1 day. Fortunately, even 1 day is enough for your trip if you hire a car. 

Having picked up a Pisa Airport car hire, you can quickly decide where to go and what to see – with no waiting, no fuss, and no wasting time. This iconic city with centuries of history, beautiful nature, and rich traditions has more to offer than you might expect. Check out some of its other notable sites that are no less beautiful than the Leaning Tower.

Corso Italia 

If you drive a couple of hundred meters north of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, you arrive at Corso Italia, Pisa's main pedestrian street. This is a crowded and cheerful place, built up with a solid facade of three or four-storey buildings. 

Here in the open air, you’ll see many simple cafes. However, this is not all you can enjoy there. Corso Italia is Pisa’s best shopping destination, especially in the summer when the Italian sales season begins. 

Among the houses and galleries, the modest church of Santa Maria del Carmine beautifully stands out. Then the street widens, and you can see the Clock Tower of the Palazzo Pretorio and the high arcades of the Loggia di Banchi. This means the Arno River and the Ponte di Mezzo are very close, so get in your hire car and continue your trip.

Ponte Di Mezzo 

Ponte di Mezzo was once the oldest and only bridge over the Arno River in Pisa. Now it has great historical value. The bridge was destroyed during the Second World War but then the city authorities took care of its restoration and made it even more beautiful. 

Leave your hire car in one of the nearby streets and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the river. As you walk across the bridge, don't forget to stop in the middle and admire the classic views of the water and embankments. 

Just behind the bridge is Piazza Garibaldi with the monument to the famous Italian hero, and the old Casino dei Nobili. A little further along the embankment, you will see the University of Pisa, where Galileo Galilei studied. Pisa is a city of students and youth, so university buildings will often be on your way.

Piazza dei Cavalieri 

In order to reach Piazza dei Cavalieri in Pisa, drive your hire car towards Via S. Frediano. By the way, don’t be afraid to turn into narrow lanes, where two cars can hardly fit. This will allow you to truly explore Pisa. 

Inspect its old houses, among which you will find churches, small markets, and tiny squares unknown to guidebooks. Try to find via delle Sette Volte - a tunnel street that runs under the arches of houses.

Piazza dei Cavalieri was once the historic city centre. Previously, there was a Roman forum, and its current appearance was designed by the architect and art historian Vasari. The most notable buildings on the square are the Palazzo Carovana, painted with ancient graffiti, the Church of St. Stephen, and the Palazzo dell'Orologio with a clock tower in the middle.

Pisa Botanical Garden 

On the way to Piazza dei Miracoli, you can stop by the local Botanical Garden. Unfortunately, there’s no designated parking area, so you better park your hire car along Via Roma. 

Orto Botanico in Pisa is the second oldest botanical garden in Italy. It was established at the university as a place for the cultivation of medicinal plants. 

The value of the botanical garden is primarily scientific but the fans of rare plants will find a lot of interesting things among 550 plant species of the garden. The building of the botanical museum also attracts attention. Still, its pattern of shells and corals looks simply amazing.

Piazza dei Miracoli

Hopefully, there’s no need to explain the popularity of Piazza dei Miracoli. If you still don't know, here’s the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If you arrive at Piazza dei Miracoli in the middle of the day, you will see a funny picture of travellers taking photos. They put their hands forward as if supporting the Leaning Tower and preventing it from falling. 

In fact, the square has several no less important things than taking photos. First, travellers will see a drinking water fountain with three angels and the Pisa coat of arms. In addition to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the square houses the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the largest baptistery in Italy. Slightly off to the side is the monumental Campo Santo cemetery. All buildings feature a unique Pisano-Romanesque style that predates the Gothic and Renaissance.

Lungarni di Pisa 

Pisa's historic embankments of the Arno River bear a special name - Lungarni. They are as wide as avenues. At the same time, stone walls, built to protect against countless floods, separate the embankment from the riverbed. 

Be sure to take a walk here in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset. A little later, the lanterns will complement the magical atmosphere of romanticism. 

The Pisans built the most beautiful buildings and palaces on the embankments. Perhaps the most notable architectural structure here is the small Gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina. So you can stop and take some amazing photos.