Knights’ Square
Knights’ Square
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking Areas
About
Walking around this central square, one can find the Palace of the Scuola Normale of Pisa, the Church of S. Stefano and the Palace of the Orologio, where Count Ugolino della Gherardesca was imprisoned and condemned to die, as narrated by Dante in the Divine Comedy.
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The area

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,827 reviews
Excellent
830
Very good
747
Average
210
Poor
29
Terrible
11

5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
We went a walk around pisa at sunset and walked through this square, it was so beautiful to see the sun hitting the beautiful architecture.
If you like architecture then this is a must-see, the detail on some of the buildings is amazing!
It's definitely worth going for a little wander around pisa, especially at night.
Written 10 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marius P
Oslo, Norway1,853 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Went past the square on way to the leaning tower. The square had a wagon selling candy during our visit. Not worth a detour, but nice if you pass it.
Written 19 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thebates22
Chester, UK1,779 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
All roads in Pisa lead to Knights square... What an absolutely beautiful piazza (square) surrounded by stunning buildings Visit it in the day, but by night it is less way less crowded and way more magical. Certainly worth a visit.
Written 18 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laura F
Durham, UK1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
For the buildings around it, and the history behind them, particularly those associated with Ugolino and his family, it’s worth stopping. But you can’t go into any one of them
Written 4 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barheat
Hamilton, Canada1,755 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Knights' Square is off the beaten track from the Field of Miracles. It is an open square without the shops and restaurants. As such, is was quite quiet when we visited which allowed us to admire the architecture of the buildings. The highlight is the Normal School or the Palace of the Knights of St. Stephen. The facade is decorated with niches containing busts of the grand dukes of Tuscany. In front is a statue of Cosimo 1 de Medici.
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

20bothwell
United Kingdom64 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
no where to sit and enjoy , its a uni so busy but despite walking through the area thats all you can do
Written 30 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom_Blancmange
Malmesbury, UK715 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Family
Quite a pretty square though much of it is covered up and undergoing restoration. The painted municipal buildings are interesting but really it is only a place to pass through. Nowhere to sit or eat on the square itself, though obviously there are plenty of places in the streets around. We made a specific point of going to this square given the rave reviews and to be honest it was a bit disappointing!
Written 3 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna P
Western Poland, Poland667 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
I did not expect so a beautiful place in Pisa. I did not know it existed. I very recommend this place.
Written 17 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

andrew p
West Chester, PA2,847 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
this square was a surprise, knew nothing about it until we walking into the square from a side street. It has a great 360 panorama. The church is also unusual with it's nautical theme and artifacts.
Written 24 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dapper777
Monaco32,690 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Friends
In the heart of the historic Santa Maria district, Piazza dei Cavalieri is a must for those who want to deepen the rich and interesting history of Pisa. Its Renaissance style, the façade of the Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri church, the Palazzo della Carovana and the Palazzo dell'Orologio make it one of the most special and interesting destinations in the city.
It is probably the second most famous square in Pisa, after the Piazza del Duomo and the Campo dei Miracoli, as it is now known, after the writer Gabriele d'Annunzio renamed it. Piazza dei Cavalieri is believed to occupy the space that once housed the city's Forum in Roman times.
Later, it became the political center of the Republic of Pisa and it was with Cosimo I de 'Medici that it became the seat of the military order of the Knights of Santo Stefano ("I Cavalieri di Santo Stefano"), with the aim of removing the more visible signs of its independent republican past.
The present appearance of the square is the result of an ambitious redevelopment plan that was begun in 1562 and carried out, largely in the project as well as in the construction, by the famous Florentine architect Giorgio Vasari.
The center of the square is occupied by a statue of Cosimo I de 'Medici, dressed in the uniform of the knights of the Grand Master of Santo Stefano. Behind the statue is the Palazzo dei Cavalieri della Carovana and former seat of the municipal council during the republican era (the Palazzo degli Anziani del Popolo) and had been transformed by Giorgio Vasari to reach the shape we can see today.
The imposing church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri is one of the most beautiful buildings in the square. The structure in white Carrara marble and sandstone is admired for the precious carved wooden ceiling, decorated and rich in paintings and for the collection of war trophies snatched by the Pisans from the Saracens in the countless naval battles, including the battle of Lepanto. The Palazzo della Carovana was the seat of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano. The façade shows a series of sculptures and sculpted statues depicting illustrious Pisans and the coat of arms of the Medici and the Knights.
The Palazzo dell'Orologio was created by connecting snd uniting two neighboring buildings, through an arch with a clock on the top.
The historic Palazzo della Carovana is now home to the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, one of the most prestigious universities in the city, and in Italy and hundreds of students from the two academic classes of Literature and Science roan, live and walk around this beautiful square during the week.
The seven streets that branch off from the square are home to several bars and little cafes where you can have a break, a talk and a bite, between one visit and another.
On the south side is the monumental façade of the Palazzo del Consiglio dei Dodici, the former court of the city. Piazza dei Cavalieri is located in the heart of Pisa and can be reached on foot along some of the most beautiful streets in the city..
Not to miss out in Pisa.
Written 13 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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KNIGHTS’ SQUARE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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