Pisa Leaning Tower and Cathedral Guided Tour

Getting started

Meet your guide beneath the arch of Porta Santa Maria. After a quick check-in and ticket validation, your licensed guide will introduce the day’s highlights before leading you into the monumental complex.

What to expect

Step into the UNESCO-listed Piazza dei Miracoli, home to Pisa’s most celebrated architectural treasures. Your guide shares the stories and significance behind each monument, offering context that brings centuries of history to life.

Pisa Cathedral

Begin your journey inside the stunning Romanesque cathedral. Your guide highlights its unique blend of architectural influences, from intricate marble work to golden mosaics, and explains its central role in Pisa’s religious and civic life.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Hear the fascinating story behind Pisa’s most famous landmark — a bell tower that leans due to a centuries-old foundation flaw. Your guide will explain the engineering challenges and significance of the tower. After your tour ends, you can climb the tower on your own to enjoy sweeping views of Pisa.

St. John's Baptistery

If you’ve opted for a guided tour through all the attractions within the complex, you will access the Baptistry next, where your guide demonstrates the building’s extraordinary acoustics. Learn about the baptistery’s circular design, Gothic and Romanesque elements, and its connection to the cathedral’s spiritual purpose.

Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto)

Discover the solemn beauty of the Camposanto. As you walk the cloisters, your guide points out original frescoes, ancient sarcophagi, and shares stories that bring the cemetery’s historical importance to life.

Opera del Duomo Museum & Sinopie Museum

Conclude with a guided introduction to these two museums. See the original sculptures and artwork once housed in the cathedral and tower, and learn how preliminary sketches helped artists create the Camposanto’s iconic frescoes. After the tour ends, you’re free to explore both museums at your own pace.

Pisa Leaning Tower and Cathedral Guided Tour

Discover the iconic landmarks of Pisa on this guided tour that includes a climb up the Leaning Tower, exploration inside the Cathedral, and visits to the Camposanto cemetery and Sinopie Museum. This 2-hour tour offers audio guides in multiple languages including English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Russian. The tour covers the entire Piazza dei Miracoli complex, providing access for all visitors regardless of mobility needs. With over 10 million annual visitors, this site is one of Italy’s most popular attractions, offering a deep dive into the city’s rich history and architectural marvels.

Explore the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Your tour stops at the Leaning Tower of Pisa where guests can climb its 294 steps to reach the top. Construction began in 1173, and the tower's tilt became noticeable during the second floor construction due to unstable foundation soil. The tower stands 56 meters tall with a weight of approximately 14,500 metric tons. Visitors will see intricate marble carvings and learn about Galileo’s famous experiments from the top in 1589. This unique structure is unlike any other leaning tower worldwide due to its historical significance and architectural complexity, making it an essential stop on this tour.

Discover the Cathedral of Pisa

The tour continues inside the stunning Cathedral of Pisa where guests can marvel at the intricate mosaics that adorn the interior. Built between 1063 and 1347, the cathedral features a bronze doorway created by Tuscan artist Andrea Pisano in 1352. The pulpit, crafted by Giovanni Pisano in 1302-1310, is often overlooked but holds significant historical importance. Visitors spend about an hour exploring this architectural masterpiece, learning about its rich history and symbolism. This cathedral stands out from others due to the unique blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles evident throughout.

Witness the Camposanto

Your tour proceeds to the Camposanto cemetery where guests can see frescoes that date back to the 14th century. Established in 1277, this monumental structure covers an area of approximately 30,000 square meters and is surrounded by a cloister with 34 arches. Notable features include the chapel dedicated to Saint Leonard and the marble sarcophagi that hold the remains of many prominent Pisan citizens. Visitors spend around 45 minutes here, appreciating the intricate artwork and historical significance of this sacred site.

Admire the Sinopie Museum

The tour concludes at the Sinopie Museum where guests can explore detailed sketches from the Camposanto's frescoes. Established in 1960, it houses over 75 full-scale preparatory drawings that were found during restoration work. The museum covers an area of about 2,000 square meters and features works by artists such as Andrea Pisano and Buonamico Buffalmacco. Visitors spend approximately 30 minutes here, gaining insight into the artistic process behind these historic frescoes.

Tour Highlights

• Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Explore the Cathedral's mosaics for an hour
• Audio guides available in multiple languages
• Discover historical pulpit at the Cathedral
• Witness 14th-century frescoes at Camposanto cemetery
• Admire sketches from Camposanto’s restoration work
• Access to Sinopie Museum with detailed drawings
• Convenient tour including all key landmarks of Pisa

Perfect for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and families, this guided tour provides an immersive experience through the historical sites of Pisa. The 2-hour format allows you to climb the Leaning Tower, explore the Cathedral’s intricate mosaics, and witness the frescoes at Camposanto cemetery, giving you a comprehensive understanding of Pisa's architectural and cultural significance.