Pisano

<< Tuscany

The territory of the Province of Pisa, or Pisano, includes the lower part of the alluvial plain of the Arno river, where the provincial capital is located. To the south is a hilly region with a few historic towns, most notably Volterra.

Calci

Calci is a municipality that includes various small towns east of Pisa. The area is best known for hosting a historic charterhouse.

✪ Pisa Charterhouse

Also known as: Calci Charterhouse (Certosa di Calci)

The Pisa Charterhouse (Certosa di Pisa) is a historic Carthusian monastery founded in the 14th century, and later adorned with various artworks and decorations. The complex now houses the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa (Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Pisa). This museum features a huge collection of zoological specimen and fossils, including a rich section dedicated to cetaceans. The museum also includes the largest freshwater aquarium in Italy and a collection of minerals.

Pontedera

Pontedera is a town located along the Arno river in the Province of Pisa. The city has been for centuries a minor commercial center, and it is now an industrial town.

Piaggio Museum

Pontedera houses the headquarters of motor vehicle manufacturer Piaggio. The Piaggio Museum (Museo Piaggio) is located in the former factories of the company, and it hosts a collection of historic motor vehicles, including many models of the renowned brand Vespa. The museum also features exhibits on the history of Piaggio.

San Miniato

San Miniato is a town located halfway between Pisa and Florence. The old town, located among the hills, has its origins in the Early Middle Ages, and for two centuries it was the seat of the imperial vicars to Tuscany. The town is now known for its historic buildings and its famous white truffles.

Rocca of Frederick II

The Rocca of Frederick II (Rocca di Federico II) was a fort erected in San Miniato during the 13th century, under the rule of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Later abandoned, it was destroyed by the retreating German troops during World War II, and the tower was rebuilt in 1958.

San Miniato Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Genesio (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e di San Genesio)

The San Miniato Cathedral (Duomo di San Miniato) is a historic church erected in the old town of San Miniato during the Late Middle Ages. The church is in Romanesque style and its interiors host various artworks and rich decorations.

Volterra

Volterra is a town located among the hills of Tuscany, in the Province of Pisa. In ancient times it was one of the main Etruscan cities, and later it became an important Roman town. During the Late Middle Ages, Volterra ruled over the surrounding territory, but it was eventually conquered by Florence. Volterra is now a tourist destination thanks to its historic heritage and medieval old town.

✪ Mario Guarnacci Etruscan Museum

The Mario Guarnacci Etruscan Museum (Museo Etrusco Mario Guarnacci) is an archaeological museum in Volterra. The museum houses one of the greatest collection of Etruscan objects and artworks, with several ancient statues, urns, and sarcophagi. Part of the collection of the museum are also numerous other archaeological finds from prehistory and the Roman period.

Palazzo dei Priori

Palazzo dei Priori is the medieval town hall of Volterra, built during the 13th century. The imposing palace features Romanesque and Gothic decorations, a richly frescoed hall, and various artworks. Palazzo dei Priori faces the main square of the medieval old town of Volterra, Piazza dei Priori, which also hosts the historic Palazzo Pretorio.

Volterra Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta)

The Volterra Cathedral (Duomo di Volterra) is the main church of the city, built starting in the 12th century. The church has a Romanesque structure and it features decorated interiors, with various adorned chapels housing several artworks. An octagonal medieval baptistery stands in front of the cathedral.

Palazzo Minucci-Solaini

Palazzo Minucci-Solaini is a historic palace in Volterra hosting two important museums. The Pinacoteca e Museo Civico is hosted here, and it houses several artworks mostly dating from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Palazzo Minucci-Solaini also houses the Ecomuseo dell’Alabastro, an exhibition dedicated to the extraction and processing of alabaster, with a collection of artworks made with the mineral.

Palazzo Viti

Palazzo Viti is a house-museum hosted in a historic palace in the old town of Volterra. The museum features various decorated halls hosting artworks and furnishings mostly from the 19th century. The palace also includes the Teatro Persio Flacco, a theater inaugurated in 1820.

Roman Theater of Volterra

The ruins of the Roman Theater of Volterra (Teatro Romano di Volterra) are located just north of the medieval old town of the city. The large theater was built in the 1st century BCE, and its ruins now feature some partially reconstructed sections. The archaeological area also hosts some ancient baths.

Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Volterra

The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Volterra (Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra di Volterra) is a museum of religious art hosted inside the historic Church of Sant’Agostino in Volterra. The museum houses various artworks and objects from the church in and around the city.

Walls of Volterra

The walls that surround the old town of Volterra were originally built during the Etruscan period, and were later expanded and rebuilt various times, most notably in the 13th century. The main city gate along the walls is Porta all’Arco, built by the Etruscans and reworked during the Middle Ages.