Guide to visiting Marina di Pisa
Marina di Pisa is one of the main seaside resorts in the province of Pisa. Together with the nearby Tirrenia it is considered by the Pisans to be the seaside destination par excellence. From an administrative point of view, Marina di Pisa is part of the Municipality of Pisa. The city is located about 10 kilometers away from the capital, near the Bocca d’Arno, which is the point where the river mouth is located.
Right at the mouth of the Arno there is also the Port of Pisa which, unlike that of Livorno, is a tourist port where yachts and small to medium sized boats dock. Many other boats are moored along the left bank of the river, in the final stretch before reaching the sea.
The bulk of the tourists who visit Marina di Pisa during the summer holidays come from the city of Pisa and its province. However, considering the proximity of the city and the airport, Marina di Pisa could also be a destination for those coming from outside the region and want to take a holiday of culture and sea.
History
The official foundation of Marina di Pisa dates back to 1872 and in fact, until a few years before, nothing existed here. An interesting detail is that until 1606 the area in which the city stands did not exist. In that year, the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand I decided to move the mouth of the Arno which was 1500 meters further south than where it is now.
The birth of the town, as mentioned, dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century. A first impulse in this sense was given by Gaetano Ceccherini who in fact is considered the founder of Marina di Pisa. It was he who built the first bathhouse in what was then called Boccadarno. His son Baldassarre continued the work and was also credited with bringing some famous people to Marina di Pisa. Between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century there was a notable tourist and urban development culminating in the construction of numerous Art Nouveau villas.
Starting from the twenties of the twentieth century, Marina di Pisa also experienced an industrial development linked to the construction of seaplanes and other types of aircraft. After the Second World War the industrial plant was converted to the production of railway cars and buses, remaining in business until 1988.
Unfortunately, during the twentieth century, Marina di Pisa experienced the problem of erosion which risked erasing its sandy shores. To address this problem, the municipal administration has built a series of breakwater barriers that protect the coast from storm surges.
What to do and what to see in Marina di Pisa
Today Marina di Pisa remains a destination for summer tourism linked to the sea and beaches. The city is full of hotels and accommodation facilities of all kinds. There is no shortage of bathrooms as well as restaurants where to eat by the sea. The main attractions include the tourist port of Bocca d’Arno and the promenade.
- Sea and beaches in Marina di Pisa
- What to see in Marina di Pisa
- What to see around Marina di Pisa
- How to get to Marina di Pisa
- Where to stay in Marina di Pisa
Sea and beaches in Marina di Pisa
Marina di Pisa occupies a long stretch of coast, usually characterized by a sandy beach. The beach of Marina di Pisa can be divided into two parts: the first, further north, which coincides with the city, and the second which is located south of the town. Contrary to what happens in other seaside resorts in Tuscany, there are more bathing establishments along the beach outside the city than in that town.
City beach
The city beach of Marina Pisa extends from the tourist port to the end of the inhabited center. Thanks to the presence of breakwater cliffs that serve to counteract erosion, this beach is characterized by a calm sea almost always devoid of considerable waves. The beach is mostly made of gravel and pebbles; in recent years there has also been a reconstruction of the beach by the municipality. Most of this beach is free; there are a few bathing establishments, one of which is at Piazza Gorgona, in the northernmost part, and others in the final southern section.
South Coast Beach
Moving further south than the inhabited center you reach a long sandy beach divided into many small beaches. Each of these small beaches has an equipped bathing establishment. The beach on the south coast of Marina di Pisa is also protected by a series of barriers. Only in the final stretch, the one towards Tirrenia, does one return to see the open sea. The water is shallow and the seabed is sandy, so this beach is suitable for families with children. Behind the beach there is a thick pine forest inside which hides a large campsite and some clubs.
What to see in Marina di Pisa
At the turn of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several villas and cottages were built that still embellish the center of Marina di Pisa today. Some of these villas are in Art Nouveau style while others represent interesting examples of eclecticism. One of these villas, Villa Bondi which is located in Piazza delle Balearic, has been included in the “Historic Houses of Italy” circuit. The neo-Gothic Villa Albites and Palazzo Carovigno which is located in Piazza Gorgona are also of great interest.
One of the things to do in Marina di Pisa is the typical promenade that can be done either on foot or by bicycle. When you reach the north end of the city, you will find the marina where many boats and yachts are moored. In the harbor area you will also find several restaurants for a seafood lunch or dinner.
What to see around Marina di Pisa
From Marina di Pisa you can quickly reach both Pisa and Livorno. In the immediate vicinity there are Tirrenia, further south, and the Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli Regional Park which extends along the coastal strip north of the Bocca d’Arno. In the Pisan hinterland, I recommend that you visit the magnificent Certosa di Calci and Vicopisano where there is a beautiful medieval castle. In Pontedera, on the other hand, you can visit the Piaggio Museum which is largely dedicated to the Vespa, a true icon of Made in Italy.
How to get to Marina di Pisa
Marina di Pisa is located about 10 km away from Pisa and 12 km from Livorno.
You can easily reach Marina di Pisa both by car and by bus but not by train. If you leave from Pisa, a 20-minute journey by car or half an hour by bus (line 10) awaits you.
The closest train station is Pisa Centrale, nearby, in the square Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, there is the departure of the bus that goes to Marina di Pisa.
By car you must reach Pisa, for example with the FI-PI-Li if you come from Florence, and then continue on the SP224 provincial road following the signs for Marina di Pisa. The same provincial road also connects Livorno and Tirrenia to Marina di Pisa.
Near the Bocca d’Arno, not far from the port, there is the camper parking area of Marina di Pisa which is directly accessible from the provincial road SP224.
Where to stay in Marina di Pisa
The hotels in Marina di Pisa are almost all located a stone’s throw from the sea, and this will allow you to reach the beach comfortably on foot without having to take the car. In the area there are also some bed and breakfasts, campsites and farmhouses. In the city you can also find apartments for rent and holiday homes.