Welcome to Pisa

The 14th ESEE Conference will take place in Pisa, one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany and Italy, rich in art and history. The conference will be held at the Dipartimento di Economia e Management of the University of Pisa

Also for this conference, PhD and Master’s students are invited to participate in a pre-conference summer school. Further details will be soon available on the conference website.

Discover the host town

Pisa is an ancient town known worldwide for its iconic leaning tower, but you will be surprised and amazed by the wonderful riverfront lined by elegant medieval buildings, romanesque and gothic churches. Much of the city’s charming architecture is the legacy of its history as one of the Italian maritime republics.

Once here, you will discover the town by getting lost in the labyrinth of ancient alleys and squares of the town centre. Students crowd the pubs and keep the medieval city alive.

Lungarni (riversides)
Camposanto monumentale, part of Piazza dei Miracoli

You should spend an evening at the tables of the bars in Piazza delle Vettovaglie or Piazza della Pera and then, moving between alleys and riversides, you will discover architectural jewels such as Santa Maria della Spina, the headquarters of the Scuola Normale in Piazza dei Cavalieri, the exhibitions of Palazzo Blu.

You will inevitably end up attracted by the magnificence of Piazza dei Miracoli with its astonishing ensemble of buildings, UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. If possible, take some time to visit the Camposanto, a gothic treasure hidden at one side of the Piazza.

If you get the chance, go and visit the Historical Ships Museum, that displays seven boats from the Roman era. Or also the high altitude walkway of the Town Walls, 11 meters high, that offers visitors the opportunity to observe the city from an unusual perspective.

Or you could discover the Orto Botanico, founded in 1543, the first university botanic garden in the world.

The leaning tower and the cathedral
San Miniato al Tedesco, in the countryside near Pisa

Gorgeous nature surrounds Pisa. The Migliarino San Rossore and Massaciuccoli Natural Park extends over the coast from Viareggio to Livorno. The Tenuta di San Rossore in the heart of the park is the largest pine forest in Europe and stretches as far as the sea passing through immense meadows, oak woods, maritime pines, reeds and dunes, to be discovered on foot or by bicycle.

The countryside around Pisa mixes delightfully typical Tuscan landscape, small traditional villages, chestnuts woods, olive groves and nature parks.

The beaches of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coast are nearby, as well as the river mouth Boccadarno, and the Alpi Apuane with their impressive deposits of white marble.

Boccadarno and the Alpi Apuane on the background
Palazzo della Carovana, now seat of the Scuola Normale Superiore

Nowadays, Pisa is home to a famous University, which has a history going back to the 12th century, to the Scuola Normale Superiore, founded by Napoleon in 1810, and to the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies.

During the days of the Conference, you will have the chance to witness one of the most impressive Candlelight Festival in Italy.

During the night of June 16 the Candlelight Festival (Luminaria) will offer a romantic and festive atmosphere, with thousands of people pouring into the streets, loads of events and fireworks over the river. Since 1688, the Luminaria is dedicated to San Ranieri and at sunset thousands of candles are lit up.

Lungarni on the 16th of June, Luminara di San Ranieri
Chiesa della Spina, Lungarni

Pisa is easy to reach by train, boat (Livorno harbour is half an hour away), car or flight, and is well connected to the rest of Tuscany and Italy.

Plan your travel and stay:

For participants and accompanying persons: