Visit The Lovely Medieval Village Of Vicopisano In Pisa!

Tucked into the picturesque Pisan Mountains in Tuscany is the beautiful village of Vicopisano. It’s situated on the eastern slopes surrounded by the River Arno and River Auser flowing down on either side of it.

There’s a spectacular castle here that was built in the 9th century that once dominated the entire Arno valley; its dominion stretched from San Miniato to the Tuscan coast.

For those wishing to stay in this area for a few days, why not choose to stay in a gorgeous luxury villa in Cascina, only a few kilometres from Vicopisano?

Walk around the magnificent stronghold wall that was designed and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, lined with large lookout towers and high battlements. This was once a town that had to fiercely defend itself from power hungry provinces that wanted to seize control of the area. These battlements protected the townspeople from invasion and weapons like boiling oil and flaming arrows would have been launched over these high walls down upon their unfortunate attackers! Nowadays, visitors can climb up to some of these towers along the wall and admire the stunning beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Visit the church of St. Mary and the Pieve di San Jacopo which house some spectacular 13th century frescoes and ancient sacred artefacts. Enjoy a stroll around the village with an expert guide who can tell you all about the history of Vicopisano and its castle, as well as bringing you around the ornate Palazzo Pretorio to admire the antique furniture and décor. Call the village’s information office on 050 796117 for more information.

The old castle is available for tours from April to July and September until November at weekends.

Entry is €4.60 or €3 for children or large groups. It’s open on Saturdays from 15.30 – 19.30pm and Sundays from 10am-12.30pm and 15.30 – 19.30pm. Learn all about the battles that this stronghold faced and the nobles that once lived there!

Why not enjoy a relaxing evening here, watching the sun set over the stunning Tuscan hills before heading to a popular restaurant in the village called ‘Chez Mes Amis’? It has received many fantastic reviews and is well known for their warm welcome and excellent services. Try their stone baked pizzas with a wide selection of toppings to choose from which goes particularly well with a bottle of local red wine.

Read through some of our related articles on other charming small towns and villages in Tuscany like Larior Barga that also have plenty to offer tourists in terms of sightseeing and entertainment!

Vicopisano is a wonderful village to visit that would truly enrich your holiday experience in Tuscany!