The medieval civic heart of Pisa, remodelled by Vasari as the seat of the Knights of Santo Stefano.
In the medieval republic the square was the political centre of Pisa. After Florence conquered Pisa in 1406, Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici founded the military order of the Knights of Santo Stefano in 1561 and commissioned Giorgio Vasari to rebuild the square. Vasari designed the Palazzo della Carovana, decorated with sgraffito, and the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, while the Palazzo dell'Orologio incorporates the medieval Torre della Muda, where Count Ugolino della Gherardesca and his sons were imprisoned and died in 1289, a story told by Dante in Inferno canto XXXIII. A statue of Cosimo I by Pietro Francavilla stands in the centre. Today the Palazzo della Carovana is the home of the Scuola Normale Superiore, founded in 1810.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Open at all times; Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri has limited hours |
| Address | Piazza dei Cavalieri, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy |
Why it matters
Shows Pisa's transition from republic to Medici city and ties to Dante's Inferno.
Site facts
- Built
- From 1560
- Architect
- Giorgio Vasari (redesign for Cosimo I de' Medici)
- Style
- Renaissance / Mannerist
Location
Piazza dei Cavalieri, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
43.7186, 10.4009 View on map
Highlights
- Vasari's sgraffito palace
- Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri
- Torre della Muda and Count Ugolino story
Tips for visiting
- Pair with the University of Pisa area and Borgo Stretto
Accessibility
Open paved square with uneven stone.
Frequently asked questions
What is in the Palazzo della Carovana?
It houses the Scuola Normale Superiore, an elite university institute founded in 1810.