About Pisa

I think the best time when you should go there is spring, because the weather is very good, but is't not too hot, so it's great.

Piazza dei Miracoli is really well worth visiting, it's one on the most important places in the world: there you can see the leaning tower, the baptistery, the "Campo Santo" and the Duomo Church.

Make sure you go shopping in Corso Italia, the main street, full of beautiful shops.

Another nice thing is to go for a walk along the "Arno" river, the main river in Tuscany.

If you have a time, don't miss the ice cream parlours in the Lungarno, the ice cream is well wort trying! If you love reading, don't miss the parks, especially the Giardino Scotto,  where you can relax, read and watch the world go by. 

Martina Fedele

Race of the 4 Maritime Republics (IT. Regata delle 4 Repubbliche Marinare)

This year the "Race of the 4 Maritime Republics" will be held in Pisa on the afternoon of June 23, on the Arno river.

Every year, on a day between the end of May and the beginning of July, in our country there is the Race (or Palio) of the Ancient Maritime Republics. These are: Pisa, Amalfi, Genoa and Venice. 

Each republic has its own colour and its own distinctive symbol on the galleon, which is equivalent to the emblem of the city: the red colour and the eagle for Pisa, the blue colour and the winged horse for Amalfi, the white colour and the gryphon for Genoa , the green colour and the winged lion for Venice.

The site of the battle is rolling across the 4 cities, where, before the race, people parade

through the streets of the host city wearing the clothes of ancient characters that characterize the republic. The idea of an event that would group the 4 ancient Maritime Republics of the Middle Ages was born at the end of the 40s of the twentieth century by the Pisan Mirro Chiaverini. He presented his idea to the Provincial Ente of Tourism, which immediately accepted it and sent it to the other three cities to join in. At the beginning Venice didn't want to participate in the race but only in the historical parade. However, the three other cities insistet so much that, it finally agreed.
The cortege in Pisa refers to the legend of Kinzica de 'Sismondi, the heroine who according to the tradition, saved the city from the Saracens in 1004. But not just her, in fact there are costumes that recall the various leaders who led one after another the government of Pisa (consuls, mayor, captain of the people). The soldiers, recognizable by the black eagles, a symbol of the Empire, which appears on the chest, the sailors, the trumpeters and timpanists take place in the parade too.

The regulation of the Race remains the same in its substance, despite having undergone some small changes. Four crews take part in the race, each made up of eight rowers and a coxswain, in addition to some reserves.

Athletes must come for half from the region and for another half from the province. The boats, called galleons, must possess all the same structural parameters: before departure they are regularly weighed at no load and with accessories, oars not included, and they must weigh less than 760 kilograms.

The four galleons must be recognizable through the colours and the figurehead, the structure placed at the bow of the boat, that is the animal which is the symbol of the city.

The Race, like any other rowing race, is 2km long.
It differs depending on the locality where it is performed: in Pisa you row on the river Arno, in Amalfi along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in Genoa in the harbor basin of the Ligurian Sea and in Venice in the quaint lagoon on the Adriatic Sea.



The winner is the boat whose figurehead passes the finish line first: for Pisa it is the ends of the claws of the eagle, for Amalfi the tip of the front hoof of the winged horse, for Genoa the tip of the nostrils of the gryphon, and for Venice half of the sword contested by the winged lion.

It's forbidden to invade the opponent's lane, unless you are a boat ride away (a unit of measurement of rowing) from him.

The winning city receives in award a trophy in gold and silver, which represents a galleon supported by four sea-horses, under which the coats of arms of the four Maritime Republics appear. The winner holds it for a year, until the day of the next edition, when it is again on the field.
At the base of the trophy a coin with the symbol of the winning city, which remains for ever to the winner, is also being paid from year to year.

These are the results of the races witch have been taken place until today:

City	1º	2º	3º	4º
Venice	30	14	7	5
Amalfi	10	7	9	30
Pisa	8	20	18	10
Genoa	8	15	22	11

This year the race will take place here:

For more information:

http://www.giugnopisano.com/

Contact the organizers:
City of Pisa   Via degli Uffizi, 1-56100 Pisa
Phone: 050 910111
Fax: 050 500242
E-mail: comune.pisa @ postacert.toscana.it
Web: http://www.comune.pisa.it/it/home



Review by:

Maria Chiara Fanteria

Shopping in Pisa

Do you want to spend a beautiful day in the main street of Pisa, Corso Italia, and go shopping to unlimited shops? If so, Pisa it's your perfect town!

Pisa can offer lots of different kinds of shops: high class luxury boutiques but also mid-range department and chain stores like Zara, Kiko, Desigual and so on.

Thay make Corso Italia a pleasant walk where it will be impossible not to have good time.

You can have a break in the unique cafes typical for their delicious coffe or eat some sandwiches and enjoy some drinks.

The Centro Torretta White, Calandrino: a sophisticated restaurant. Calcinaia, Italy

I have gone to the Calandrino since I can remember, because my dad works a few meters from there, so he often goes to eat there and he has always taken there its costumers.
And me, of course.
The service is excellent, as the restaurant for that matter. The staff is very friendly, always smiling and helpful; joking with the regulars costumers and always in a good mood, and when you are at a business dinner, it can be very diligent. In addition, the languages ​​are not a problem, because the ones who work there speak perfect English, Chinese, Spanish, French and German. In short, the staff is made by people who know how to do their job, in an excellent way.
The rooms are spacious and very bright. Two indoors and a terrace. I prefer the terrace, next to the pool, but food is served there only in the hottest periods of the year, or at least warm, for obvious reasons of temperature. In summer, one of the chefs goes to cook barbecue there, he grills and cooks what customers require outside, by the pool.
The atmosphere is always cozy, romantic and familiar.
About food I can just say that it is always great! On this there is no argument. My favorite (but you can enjoy it only in summer :-( ) is the strawberry tiramisù .. Mmmhhhhh .... delicious!
The place is expensive, but for a dinner or a special occasion, it's the best I know!

http://www.calamidoro.com/en/the-restaurant.php?sx=19

Annulla modifiche
Here there are the contacts:
Tel. +39 0587 2970
Pax. +39 0587 297103
Skype +39 0587 297103
Email. calamidoro@calamidoro.com


Review by:
Maria Chiara Fanteria

Alpha

Il Vecchio Cinema

The restaurant ‘Il vecchio cinema’ is a very comfortable place in Cascina.  The building was originally an old cinema that the current owners transformed into a brand new restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious and the waiters are very helpful and welcoming. The dining area is very big, there is room for more than 120 people. When I was there the atmosphere  was even more cheerful because while we had dinner a band was playing live music for all the guests. It was a very relaxing night. Prices are reasonable too, that is a very important thing considering the hard times we are living. I would definitely recommend everybody to have a meal at ‘Il Vecchio Cinema’. Rachele Bensi

Pisa's Campo Santo

Pilgrims travelled to Pisa in the Middle Ages because they came to visit the Campo Santo.
A legend says that the ground of the center of the cemetery is the same where Jesus Christ died, so it's a kind of holy ground; the legend also says that those who will die and rest inside the Campo Santo, will go directly to Heaven.
What I loved the most there are the chains of Porto Pisano, who are exhibited inside the Campo Santo. I don't know exactly why, but I think it's because I like Pisa's past sea-wars and, even if Pisa lost, the ones with Genoa is one of my favorite ones; and the fact that with the unity of Italy, Genoa gave back the chains to Pisa like a fraternity sign, I don't know, I just like that.
Maria Chiara

The Capodanno Pisano

Pisans celebrate the Capodanno Pisano on 25th of March at twelve o'clock in the Square of Miracles. At twelve o'clock the bells of Cathedral ring and the new year starts. It is very beautiful to see. In Pisa, 2014 has already begun!