Pretty Pisa sits beside the River Arno and grew rich on a maritime trade that rivalled that of Venice and Genoa. As a result, this small town is unusually well endowed with impressive Romanesque, Renaissance and Gothic architectural treasures, of which the Leaning Tower is the most famous.

Telephone
Country code: +39

Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

Key Areas

Pisa offers some excellent shopping alongside a lot of tourist tat. For interesting, high-end boutiques, bookshops and antique showrooms, the medieval Borgo Stretto is the place to go, particularly Via Mercanti and Via dei Rigattieri. For cheaper, high-street brands, head to Corso Italia.

Markets

Pisa’s main fruit and food market is held in Piazza delle Vettovaglie from Monday to Friday. On Wednesday and Saturday there are flea markets on Via Buonarotti and Via San Martino. And a great open-air antique and craft fair takes place every second Saturday and Sunday of the month in Piazza dei Cavalieri.

Social conventions

The social structure is heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic Church and, generally speaking, family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western Europe. Normal social courtesies should be observed. Dress is casual but smart in most places, and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities.

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

Tap water is generally safe to drink. Bottled water is available. The inscription ‘Acqua Non Potabile’ means water is not drinkable. Milk is generally pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Past outbreaks of brucellosis in southern regions means unpasteurised buffalo mozzarella is best avoided. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat.

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.

IATA Travel CentreIATA Travel Centre