Stepping out into the opulent piazzas, surrounded by sun-drenched terracotta rooftops and stone bell towers: this is the perfect beginning to your sojourn in Italy, and it all lies on the doorstep of NH Pisa. This new, contemporary hotel boasts a modern and chic design in central Pisa, situated directly in front of the central train station. Relax in comfort in one of the 100 rooms on offer, with rooms on the fifth-floor home to a private terrace with views across the cobbled train station square. After enjoying a traditional breakfast in the 24-hour open bar with a selection of pastries, fresh fruits, cold cuts, and juices, it’s time venture outside and begin your day.
It may be on the top of everyone’s wanderlust list, but a trip to Pisa is incomplete without a visit to its revered Leaning Tower. Snap a picture under the warm Italian rays, check it off your to-do list, and start exploring Pisa’s hidden secrets. Climb the Baptistry steps and look out of the small stone-framed windows for an unparalleled view of the Duomo di Pisa, one of the most ornate and impressive cathedrals in Italy. Marvel in the Piazza dei Cavalieri, once the political heart of medieval Pisa and boasting the Palazzo della Carovana, lavishly decorated by Giorgio Vasari.
Wander along the banks of the Arno with the soft summer breeze carrying you all the way to the Torre Guelfa, a redevelopment that saw the city walls reopened and the transformation of the 800-year-old republican arsenal into an arts and events space. While you’re in an arty daze, why not walk to the Palazzo Blu Gallery? Home to an impressive collection of period pieces, archaeology, and fascinating temporary exhibitions, it’ll leave you in artistic wonder.
Pisa’s roots lie on the coast, and while the city now lies several kilometres inland, its seafaring legacy lives on in its excellent restaurants. Dine on chef Dino Ricci’s innovative creations of octopus and celeriac puree, or pink tuna with ground pistachios and coffee foam, for a truly magical gastronomical journey at Ristorante La Scaletta. For those seeking something a little more traditional, enjoy regional dishes such as baked cheese and artichokes in an al fresco courtyard illuminated by fairy lights at La Pergoletta.