Pisa – Fourth Time is the Charm! – Day 2 – Part 3

The Monument to Giuseppe Mazzini, by Oragio Andreoni, dates from 1883.  Mazzini was an important Italian journalist, activist, and politician, who played a crucial role in the unification of Italy.  He died while in Pisa, in 1872, at 66 years of age. Palazzo dei Cavalieri, also known as Palazzo della Carovana, sits in the piazza…

Pisa – Fourth Time is the Charm! – Day 2 – Part 2

Housed in the Ex-Church of San Paolo all’Orto is the Gipsoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.  While not at the top of the list of popular attractions in Pisa, I highly recommend a stop here.  The building dates back to 1086, and inside, in addition to the museum exhibits, you can still admire old…

Pisa – Fourth Time is the Charm! – Day 2 – Part 1

Aside from being a top tourist destination, Pisa is also a university town, which means that there are a lot of young people!  This is reflected in the graffiti that one sees, when exploring the streets. Set on the Lungarno, the tiny Church of Santa Maria dei Galletti, or the Madonna dei Galletti, as we…

Pisa – Fourth Time is the Charm! – Day 1 – Part 2

One of the sights that I most look forward to, whenever I visit Pisa, is La Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina, or the Church of Santa Maria della Spina.  This jewel-box-like structure has enchanted me for years, but I’ve ever only seen it from the outside.  It was always closed, when I tried to…