Pisa's second great square, redesigned by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century as the seat of the Knights of Santo Stefano and now home to the Scuola Normale Superiore.
Piazza dei Cavalieri was the political centre of medieval Pisa and was reshaped from 1560 by Giorgio Vasari for Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici as the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano. The Palazzo della Carovana, with its façade decorated with sgraffito, now houses the Scuola Normale Superiore, one of Italy's most prestigious universities. Nearby are the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, a statue of Cosimo I by Pietro Francavilla (1596) and the Palazzo dell'Orologio, which incorporates the Torre della Muda, the tower in which Count Ugolino della Gherardesca and his sons were imprisoned and starved in 1289, an episode told in Dante's Inferno. The square is a good place to see student life in the university city.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open at all times as a public square; the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri has limited visiting hours |
| Typical visit | 30-45 minutes |
| Best time | Late afternoon, when students gather and the square is lively |
| Getting there | 15 minutes on foot from Pisa Centrale via Borgo Stretto; 15 minutes on foot from Piazza dei Miracoli |
| Address | Piazza dei Cavalieri, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy |
Good to know
- Best for
- architecture lovers, history buffs, students
Location
Piazza dei Cavalieri, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
43.7186, 10.4009 View on map
Highlights
- Palazzo della Carovana (Scuola Normale Superiore)
- Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri
- Statue of Cosimo I de' Medici
- Tower connected to Count Ugolino and Dante's Inferno
Tips for visiting
- Look up at the Palazzo della Carovana's sgraffito-decorated façade, now the Scuola Normale Superiore
- The Palazzo dell'Orologio on the square's north side incorporates the tower tied to Count Ugolino's death in Dante's Inferno
When to visit
Late afternoon and early evening during the academic year.
Accessibility
The square is paved with uneven stone but is open and mostly flat, and wheelchair-accessible with care.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Scuola Normale Superiore?
A prestigious public university institution founded in 1810 by Napoleon, housed in the Palazzo della Carovana.