Pisa

Already existing during the Etruscan and Roman times, Pisa reached its apex in the Middle Ages when it was one of the 4 Marine Republics of Italy, together with Genoa, Amalfi and Venice.

At that time the city was a very important commercial center and controlled a significant Mediterranean fleet. It conquered part of Sardinia and succesfully defeated several rival town in Sicily and in the south of Italy; its fleet also took part in the crusades. Pisa used the richness it had accumulated in those years to build the monuments that constitutes the Campo dei Miracoli.

The town had an indipendent republican government and was ruled by a city council. Pisa always sided with the pro-imperial Ghibellines, actively supporting emperors such as Frederick Barbarossa, Frederick II and Henry VII. Those emperors acknowledged Pisa indipendence and were grateful for its loyalty such that the town was chosen to host the spoils of Henry King of Germans, the son of Frederick II.

The decline began in 1284 when it was defeated by Genoa in the naval Battle of Meloria. The defeat ended the marine power of Pisa and the town never fully recovered. It tried to rebuild its power in the course of the 14th century but was eventually conquered by Florence in 1406. Pisa is also known for its excellent university, which was established in 1343 and has become one of Italy's top schools.

Pisa is crammed full of wonderful, historical monuments and buildings dating back many hundreds of years. The 14th-century Romanesque Leaning Tower is of course Pisa’s main attraction (it has 294 stairs) and really seems to overturn any moment. The tower reopened in November 2001. A fortification project has made some progress in stopping the increase in inclination. 

The Leaning Tower belongs to an ensemble of four impressive buildings all located on "Campo dei Miracoli" (square of miracles): the cathedral Santa Maria Assunta, the campanile (leaning tower that was actually a bell tower), the baptistry and the Camposanto cemetery. Other interesting sights include Knights' Square, Borgo Stretto, Lungarno and the small Gothic chapel of "Santa Maria della Spina".