Pisa & me

Only a few pictures and things I liked in the city...

The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari, today it hosts a prestigious school.

What a bookshop. It had a super garden and the shop was extended into it. 

The Arno river with colourful buildings.

Street art (Vincent).

Pisa & Palazzo Reale

Last day in our hotel by the Arno.

To be honest I was so excited to visit this museum but it was a little disappointing. I also have to mention that I had only an hour before heading to the airport on my last day. That means I could not have a proper look. The history of the palazzo and the works are great only a little dusting needs here. (…and a little shop J )

The palace was built along the Arno river for the Medici family for staying there during the cold Florentine winters. The transformation of the museum started in 1989. Now the museum holds works from the Medici, Lorraine and Savoy families and from private donations. It is a good place to see non-religious works in Pisa from the end of 16^th century up to the 20^th century. Bronzino, Raffaello and atelier, Guido Reni and Canova – just to name a few artists here. 

I have promised to come back to the gentleman who gave me a mini tour so passionately.

Palazzo Reale by the Arno river in Pisa.

Pisa & Keith Haring (Tuttomondo)

Having tea & cake in a small place near the train station I have noticed a mural with familiar motifs. The work was created in 1989 less than a year before the death of Haring.

The idea of creating a mural in Pisa happened by a chance when a Pisan student met him on the street in New York. Tuttomondo is about peace and harmony in the world with 30 figures on 180 square meters of the south wall of the church of St. Anthony.

My sister in front of the mural.

Me & Keith Haring.

Pisa & Leaning Tower (what else…)

• Me and my sister live in different countries so as a tradition once a year we visit another country to see each other. This year we decided to go to Italy and visit Pisa, Florence and Bologna - three cities in five days. 

Not much time I know so I really had to think what to see in each city…and here I mean arts. J

First stop was Pisa where we arrived by plane and then from city to city we took the train. Our hotel was close to the Leaning Tower; basically we saw it from our window. The hotel also had a restaurant and bar on the top floor to enjoy an even better view.

On the Fields of Miracles (Campo dei Miracoli) not only the Leaning Tower but the Babtistry, the Duomo and the Campo Santo cemetery is worth a visit. As I had little time I went to see the Duomo inside.

(when I travel I always keep in mind that I can come back any time so I don’t stress about things I have to miss…)

It was a real time travel to see all the details inside: from the fragments of the 11^th century marble floor (beneath the dome) to the frescoes of the interior of the dome after a fire in 1595; from the Byzantine mosaic works to the 16^th century bronze doors.

You have to pay to visit the other sights but this one you can visit free of charge. You only need to ask for a free ticket from the ticket office. Don’t miss it.