If the Piazza dei Miracoli is Pisa’s medieval glory, the Piazza dei Cavalieri, or Knights’ Square, is its Renaissance reinvention, and it is the place where the city’s everyday life and its history meet most comfortably. In the Middle Ages this was the political and administrative centre of the Pisan republic, crowded with towers and workshops. In 1558 Cosimo I de’ Medici, by then the ruler of Pisa, ordered it remodelled and gave the job to the architect Giorgio Vasari. Vasari’s answer was not to demolish the old buildings but to link and dress them in a unified Tuscan Renaissance style, so that the square reads as one calm, balanced space. Today it is shared between students and sightseers, since the buildings around it belong largely to the university world, and in term time the steps are crowded with young people talking and eating lunch.
What to look at
The building that dominates the square is the Palazzo della Carovana, built between 1562 and 1564, with a facade covered in sgraffito decoration, the scratched plasterwork typical of the period. Behind that facade the palace was formed by joining several older towers, and it began its life in the thirteenth century as the seat of the people’s government.
Next to it stands the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, built between 1565 and 1569 as the church of the knightly order founded by Cosimo. In the middle of the square stands a statue of Cosimo I by Pietro Francavilla, dated 1596, which gives the whole piazza a focal point.
How to visit
The square is open at all times and free to enter, so there is nothing to book. The best way to enjoy it is slowly. Walk in from the direction of Borgo Stretto, stop to look at the painted facade in the sun, then sit on a step or at a nearby cafe and watch the university go by.
If the church is open, step inside for a look at the ornate ceiling and the flags and trophies of the knights, though opening times are limited and vary with the season, so treat it as a bonus.
Getting there
The square sits in the heart of the old town, about ten minutes on foot from the Piazza dei Miracoli. A good route is to walk from the tower along Via Santa Maria, turn into the square, then carry on through Borgo Stretto to the Arno. It is also an easy stop on any walking tour of the city, and one of the best places to understand how Pisa changed from a maritime republic to a Medici university town.
When to go
Mornings are quiet and the light on the facade is soft. In the late afternoon the square fills with students and the cafes nearby buzz. Winter gives you clear air and few tourists.
Extra context
The square is a good place to see how Pisa changed after its maritime power faded. The Medici turned a medieval civic centre into a showpiece for a new order of knights and a university, and that mix of learning and ceremony still shapes the area today. If you enjoy people-watching, bring a coffee, sit on the steps in the sun and watch bicycles, students and tour groups cross the square, then decide which street to explore next.
What to expect
The experience
A free, open-air visit to a Renaissance square, with the painted Palazzo della Carovana, the Knights’ church and the Medici statue to look at, and cafes close by.
Best time
Morning, when the facade is lit and the square is quiet, or late afternoon when the students gather.
How long
Twenty to forty minutes, longer if you stop for a coffee or step into the church.
Tips
Look up at the decorated facade, check whether Santo Stefano is open, and combine the square with a walk down Borgo Stretto to the river.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travellers who want to see the living city beyond the tower, and anyone who loves Renaissance architecture.
- Families
- Open, traffic-free and easy, with room for children to run and steps to sit on while you rest.
- Couples
- A peaceful place for a coffee and a slow stroll, especially in soft morning light.
- Pair with
- Borgo Stretto and the Arno promenade, or a walking tour of the old town.
- Time needed
- About half an hour, or an hour with a coffee stop.
Good questions
Is the Piazza dei Cavalieri free to visit?+
Yes, the square is an open public space and costs nothing to enter. Some buildings around it, such as the church, have their own opening arrangements.
Who designed the Piazza dei Cavalieri?+
Giorgio Vasari redesigned the square from 1558 on the orders of Cosimo I de’ Medici, linking older medieval buildings into one Renaissance whole.
What is the statue in the middle of the square?+
It is a statue of Cosimo I de’ Medici by Pietro Francavilla, dated 1596.
How far is the Piazza dei Cavalieri from the Leaning Tower?+
About ten minutes on foot through the old town, so it is easy to combine with a visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli.
What is the Palazzo della Carovana?+
It is the large decorated palace on the square, built in the 1560s on the site of the medieval seat of Pisa’s government, and now linked with the university.
