The statue of Cosimo I de' Medici, Pisa, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The statue of Cosimo I de' Medici stands in Piazza dei Cavalieri, the main stage of Renaissance Pisa. It honours the Florentine duke who took over the city's government in the 16th century and founded the Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen, whose headquarters surround the square. Come for the statue, stay for the buildings and stories that frame it.

The story behind it

This square was the seat of political power in medieval Pisa. The republic's fortunes turned after its defeat by Genoa at the Battle of Meloria in 1284, and in the 1500s Florence took control of the city. The Medici then reshaped Pisa, and the historic centre you see today owes a great deal to them. Cosimo I made this square the home of the Knights of Saint Stephen, a military and religious order, and the statue of the duke recalls that era of Medici rule.

The square also holds a darker memory. Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, a Pisan naval commander, was accused of treason after Meloria and was later imprisoned in a tower here with his sons. The tower became known as the Tower of Hunger, and Dante placed Ugolino among the traitors in the Inferno. The building that dominates the square, the Palazzo della Carovana, once trained the knights and today houses the Scuola Normale Superiore, one of Italy's most prestigious universities.

What to look for

• Look at the statue of Cosimo I itself and at how it is set in the square, facing the buildings of the order he created.
• Study the Palazzo della Carovana, the grand palace behind the statue, whose decorated facade marks the knights' former training ground and today's university.
• Find the clock building next to it, which stands on the site of the tower where Ugolino and his sons were imprisoned.
• Notice the church of the Knights of Saint Stephen on the square, a reminder that this was both a military and a religious order.

Tips for your visit

• The square is open and you can walk around it at any time, so the statue is free to see. Allow 20 to 30 minutes to take in the buildings around it.
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and the square is calmer than at midday.
• The Palazzo della Carovana is a working university, so expect to admire it from outside. Check current opening hours if you want to go inside the church.
• The Leaning Tower and the Cathedral Square are a short walk away, so the square fits easily into a wider stroll through the old town.

See it on a quest

Pisa Highlights: The 7 Wonders of the City takes you to the city's best-known sights on foot. You arrive at Piazza dei Cavalieri as one stop of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you get there, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Romantic Walk in Pisa suits a slower pace, with a gentler look at the streets and squares around this one. You reach the square on foot as part of the route, hear the story of each place, and solve a puzzle in front of what you see. One ticket covers the whole group.