ORTOLANOGUIDA DI PISA
Pisa, without guesswork
What’s happening in Pisa?
Today, over the next few days and further ahead. A short selection checked against primary sources: public bodies, venues and organisers.
Finished events disappear automatically. For times, tickets and last-minute changes, open the source.
today
Only events that actually fall today. Longer exhibitions and programmes are listed under “On now”.
- Monday: the state museums are closedEvery MondaySan Matteo and the Ancient Ships Museum are closed today. The Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery and Camposanto follow different rules.
The city repeats itself
Markets, free Sundays and traditions
These return every week, month or year. Open a card for the rule, the practical detail and its source.
Every week
- Monday: the state museums are closedEvery MondayThe San Matteo National Museum and the Ancient Ships Museum close on Mondays. Each state museum keeps its own hours and its own closing day: for Palazzo Reale, and for the other two on other days, the Ministry of Culture’s page is the reference. The Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery and Camposanto are a different matter: they are run by the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, which sets its own rules.
- Wednesday and Saturday: the two big marketsEvery Wednesday and Saturday morningA market in piazza Toniolo and one in via Paparelli. One thing almost no guide has caught up with: until November 2025 the piazza Toniolo market was in via San Martino, and much of the web still says so.
- Saturday morning: the covered farmers’ marketEvery Saturday morning, all yearThe covered Campagna Amica farmers’ market, via del Chiassatello 64/65. Being covered, it works in the rain too.
- Sunday morning: the public library is openEvery Sunday morning, 1 September to 31 MayThe SMS Biblio also opens on Sunday mornings, from 1 September to 31 May. There are few places in the centre where you can sit indoors without buying anything.
Every month
- First Sunday of the month: state museums freeThe first Sunday of every monthFree entry to state cultural sites. In Pisa it covers the state museums — among them San Matteo and the Ancient Ships Museum: the Ministry keeps the full list. It does NOT cover the Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery or the Camposanto: those belong to the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, which sets its own rules.
Every year
- Pisan New Year25 March, every year — in 2027 it falls on Maundy Thursday; the City confirms the programme25 March is New Year's Day in the Pisan calendar: the year began at the Incarnation, nine months before the birth of Christ. At noon a sunbeam comes through the Cathedral window and strikes the egg-shaped bracket on the pillar beside Giovanni Pisano's pulpit. Historic parade and ceremony: the City publishes the day's programme.
- Luminara of San Ranieri16 June, every yearA hundred thousand lamps along the two kilometres of riverbank between Ponte della Cittadella and Ponte della Fortezza, on the eve of the patron saint's day, with fireworks over the Arno. Firework times and bridge closures change every year by ordinance: the City is the reference.
- San Ranieri regatta17 June, every yearThe rowing contest between the four historic quarters: 1,500 metres upstream, from Ponte della Cittadella to Scalo dei Renaioli, preceded by a historic river parade. Times are set by the City, edition by edition.
- Gioco del PonteLast Saturday of June, every year — the City of Pisa confirms the dateThe teams of the two sides fight for the Ponte di Mezzo by pushing a cart along rails, after the parade along the riverbanks. Times and stand tickets change every year: the City is the reference.
A wider radar
Looking for something else?
Ortolano does not copy entire calendars. These links take you straight to the primary programmes we monitor.
- Pisa TourismExhibitions, performances, sport and events across the Municipality of PisaOpen calendar →
- Teatro di PisaOpera, drama, dance, family shows and special performancesOpen calendar →
- University of Pisa museumsExhibitions, visits, talks and special openingsOpen calendar →
- Scuola Normale SuperioreConcerts and cultural events in the city centreOpen calendar →
- Opera della Primaziale PisanaConcerts, openings and events in Piazza del DuomoOpen calendar →
On now
Exhibitions, seasons and programmes already under way.
- Piero Macola. Paesaggi di vita: exhibition at Palazzo BluPalazzo Blu, Lungarno Gambacorti, Pisa
- Open-air cinema at Parco delle ConcetteParco delle Concette, Pisa
- Notturno d'arte: masterpieces by moonlightPiazza del Duomo, PisaEvening openings of the Duomo complex. Price and booking are set by the Opera della Primaziale: their site is the reference.
- Idoli 7.0 by Michele Bracciotti: GAMeCGAMeC, Lungarno Mediceo, Pisa
- Racconti della Montagna: exhibition at Museo della GraficaMuseo della Grafica, Palazzo Lanfranchi, PisaThe source states free entry for the 23 July opening only, not for the exhibition itself.
Next 7 days
In date order. On the same day, central Pisa comes before the coast.
- Marenia: Serena Brancale livePiazza dei Fiori, Tirrenia · outside central Pisa
- Lo die di Santo SistoChiesa di San Sisto in Corte Vecchia, Pisa
- Opera gala for the Bell TowerPiazza del Duomo, Pisa
Later
Worth planning for now.
- Marenia: Alex Britti livePiazza dei Fiori, Tirrenia · outside central Pisa
- Botanical Saturday: guided visitOrto e Museo Botanico, PisaAt 5 pm, booking required by noon on the previous Friday. The source lists €10; free for children under 6.
- Marenia: Gaia livePiazza Viviani, Marina di Pisa · outside central Pisa
- Marenia: Bambole di Pezza livePiazza Viviani, Marina di Pisa · outside central Pisa
- Anima Mundi: concerts in the Cathedral and the CamposantoPiazza del Duomo, PisaFree entry but ticketed, booking required: the Opera della Primaziale’s site is the reference.
- The cruellest man in the world: Lino Guanciale and Francesco MontanariTeatro Verdi, PisaTickets go on sale on 2 September: check the theatre website for availability and times.
- Edward Hopper: exhibition at Palazzo BluPalazzo Blu, Lungarno Gambacorti, Pisa
From the people who make it happen
Is an event missing?
Send the organiser’s public link with title, dates, venue and admission information. We check it; if selected, its card will expire automatically.
Suggest an event →