THE TOWER

The tower of Pisa (or Leaning Tower), situated in Piazza dei Miracoli together with the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Camposanto, is the symbol of the city besides being one of the most famous monuments in the world.
There is a controversy about the name of the original architect of the tower, but we know excactly that it dates back 1173. For many years, untill the recent excavations, the design was attributed by Vasari to Bonanno Pisano, but probably the tower was constructed by Gherardo di Gherardo.
During the Middle Ages, people belonging to the aristocratic class visited and climbed the Tower. For this reason, the building material of the stairs was marble instead of wood. When the third ring was constructed, the building started leaning, because the structure weigh on the foundations. This was the principal reason why the construction was interrupted and continued only in 1275. Another cause of the proclivity is of course the condition of the ground under the bell tower. In the past the area was a reclaim land and nowadays one part of the construction leans in a swamp, while the other in a more sandy ground. The other three floors were built with an opposite inclination in order to balance the equilibrium of the tower. During the centuries, architects tried to straighten it, but in vain.
Although in 1944 a terrible bombing threatened the stability of the tower, fortunately it resisted untill today.
Finally from 2001 the tower has been opened again to the public and it is possibile to visit it ( after a period of 11 years in which architects have been retrieved half a degree of inclination from 5,5 to 5).
On the balcony there are 7 bells. Here, Galileo Galilei performed the experiments for study the equations for a falling body. Today the tower is controlled through extremely modern technology.

If you are going to spend the first year of your Master at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, it is our pleasure to give you some information for your first accomodation in Pisa.

Please visit the Sant'Anna school - International student office webpage. 

A really useful map is available here. On the East of the map you can find the location of our Institute (TeCIP Institute – Scuola Sant’Anna – Area CNR, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, 1, 56127 Pisa PI).

The cost of accommodation depends on the location. The cost of a furnished single room with shared facilities in the centre of Pisa or close-by ranges from € 300 to € 350 euros per month, whereas one bed in a double room costs around 200/250 euros. The rent for a furnished flat/apartment in Pisa ranges from € 500 to 1000 euros, depending on the location, number of rooms, whether facilities are private or shared, etc. Rent is usually paid monthly.

Before renting a room or an apartment, ask whether the agreed price includes any extras such as: utilities (heating, water, light and gas bills etc); a condominium charge (e.g. cleaning, use of a lift, communal lighting, and garden maintenance). Generally extra expenses are not included, hence you may need to calculate at least 30 euros extra per month. In most cases, one or two months rent is required in advance as part of a deposit (“caparra”), which will be returned when you leave the room or apartment.

Generally life is not such expansive as in other European cities. Some examples of prices (in euros) listed in the table below will help you to compare the cost of living in Pisa with your monthly budget.