Archive for 'Pisa'

The Leaning Tower is one of the first sights people think of when Pisa is mentioned but if you are planning a trip to the city, there are other cultural gems that you should take the time to visit. Pisa is a Tuscan city with a rich historical heritage and was an important artistic centre for a very long time.

As a result, wonderful buildings, monuments and artworks remain from both the distant past and from recent years. Many of these are free to visit (in fact, we've written two articles focusing on things to do for free in Pisa) and some are obscure enough to be devoid of the long lines that often plague Tuscany's cultural hot-spots.

Once you have found a villa with pool in the Pisa area, be sure to stop by these highlights in the city.

Upon arriving in Pisa, you might be momentarily blinded by the iconic Leaning Tower and the many photo opportunities it provides. If you look a little further, you might venture towards the church next door, lured by the sound of beautiful singing. If you look yet a little closer still, you'll see the Camposanto (literally meaning “holy field”), or Monumental Cemetery, which is the final resting place of important and famous individuals and wonderfully combines stunning architecture and beautiful frescoes.

Constructed in 1278, using sacred dirt brought back from Golgotha during the Crusade, it was later decorated with extensive frescoes and was the burial place of the Pisan upper classes for centuries. For those who have found a holiday rental in Pisa, it might not be the most obvious tourist attraction but it is well worth a visit.

Uliveto, in the province of Pisa, is one of several Tuscan towns known for its thermal baths but is a particularly memorable one among the bunch for its rich history and exceptional facilities – both natural and manmade. If you are planning a spa getaway in Tuscany, or even if you hadn't considered it but could do with some serious R&R, then Uliveto has to be one of the best possible destinations that you could choose!

Take a dip in Uliveto's water with its unmistakable taste, effervescence and beneficent virtues, go to a team of specialists and have them help you change your life and health forever or enjoy the surroundings, take a dip in the pool and even try out archery or martial arts. Once you have found a luxury villa in Uliveto, you'll never be short of something to do and you'll return home a much more relaxed person.

Marina di Pisa is a seaside town located not far from Pisa. Its beginnings can be first traced back to the 17th century when Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, decided to move the mouth of the River Arno and reclaim land in the area. A hexagonal building surrounded by a moat, called “the Fort”, was then built for the custom traffic. Fishermen's houses probably began to spring up around this building over time but the official foundation of the town itself dates back to 1872. This is when the municipality of Pisa drew up a plan of a grid-pattern town divided by three squares connected to Pisa by a major road. Though the town of Marina di Pisa is not so old as many others in the region, it still has a fascinating history, is exceptionally pretty and is perched in a wonderful coastal location.

If you are looking to get away from it all and enjoy some sun, see and a different pace of life, just find a villa with pool in Marina di Pisa.

Torta coi bischeri is a typical Pisan dessert. “Torta” means cake and the word “bischero” literally means the small key which is used to adjust the strings of a violin. However, the word has developed dozens of other meanings in Tuscany. In the case of the Torta coi Bischeri, the word refers to the rolls of dough which are arranged during preparation to surround the cake, and which look exactly like the aforementioned violin key.

This “cake”, is actually closer to a tart and is made of chocolate decorated with currants, pine nuts and candied fruit. As well as the traditional recipe, there is also a green version which sees the rice mixed with beets. Although it is widely sold throughout Pisa, this cake actually originates from Pontasserchio.

In this village, the cake is especially popular during the month of April due to a festival where all residents must bake a spring dessert. As it is a popular gift amongst family and friends during Easter, it is an obvious choice. However, as so many of the cakes are made, each with the family's own recipe, the festival turns into a competition.

The best place to try the cake is in its birthplace or in the surrounding but if you’re too far away, you can try to make it at home with local ingredients. Follow our recipe for now and find a holiday rental in Pisa so you can try the real deal later – or, maybe, even compete in the festival yourself!