Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Pisa's High Line

Seeing the city from the heights


Since 2018 Pisa has opened to the public a walkway along its ancient city walls. We tried it out recently and recommend it if you have an hour or two to spend in the city and are looking for a novel perspective.

The walkway runs for three kilometres between Torre di Legno Piazza del Rosso, not far from the Arno river, and Piazza dei Miracoli. We highly recommend following it in this direction, as the views of Pisa's most famous monuments are enjoyed best this way. If it is summer, preferably choose the morning, so that you have the sun behind you.



The walkway is eleven metres above the level of the town so it affords impressive and original views. The 220cm (circa 87 inch) thick walls are impressive in themselves for they are the oldest city walls in Italy in such an excellent state of conservation. It is interesting that, since these defensive walls are medieval, they are less thick than walls built during the period when firearms were in use, for they had only to protect from arrows and trebuchet lobbing.



Athough there are still traces of Roman and early medieval walls, those we see today were begun in 1154 north of the Arno, during the prosperous years of the Pisan Republic, Together with the towers they were completed over the next 150 years with further additions in the 16th and 17th centuries under Florentine (Medici) occupation. The perimeter measured over 6 kilometres (under 4 miles) and enclosed over 200 hectares (about 500 acres). The walls remained substantially intact until the 20th century when sections were demolished to allow the city to expand.


Pisa in the 16th century: the wall running from the Arno to the right towards top left is the same which has become today's walkway



the official walkway map

For those interested in the art of masonry, the stones of the Pisan walls are notable for their neat dressing and varied colours, both exceptional for that era.
  
Much of the walk takes in the ordinary residential part of the city including parks and green areas. Interestingly, such public areas, demarcated by stone indicators planted in the earth, were established in 1287 by City Council (Comune) laws.
 

The most breathtaking stretch, and a fitting finale, is naturally Piazza dei Miracoli, not so much for the Tower as for the Baptistery, the Duomo and the magnificent greensward which surrounds them. 

Tickets cost 3 euros per person and children under 9 are free. Small and medium-sized dogs are also welcome, on a leash and with muzzles.


There are four access points, three with wheelchair access. The walkway itself is smooth and safe, although walking shoes and hats are recommended as there is no shade. Note too that there are no restrooms along the three kilometres.

Guided tours are available on weekends, just for the Piazza dei Miracoli stretch, starting from Torre Santa Maria.




Opening times vary through the year: better to check online at www.muradipisa.it



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