Piazza Carrara

Veduta Piazza Carrara da lungarno Gamabacorti (L. Corevi, Comune di Pisa)
Veduta Piazza Carrara da lungarno Gamabacorti (L. Corevi, Comune di Pisa)

Before being redesigned by the Lorena family, this square was named after the church of St. Nicholas. As far back as could be remembered, it had been the place where a particular ball game “palla con il bracciolo” was played, enthusiastically followed by the public, who crowded onto wooden grandstands. Nonetheless, because this open space was right beside the Royal Palace, it was also the Court square. The Grand Dukes’ residence still overlooks it, with the Church of S. Nicola, (Rossi theatre) and 16th century palazzi (collegio Ricci, palazzo Mazzarosa and palazzo del Pellegrino) now occupied by public bodies.
Towards the end of the 1700s, Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine proclaimed Pisa as the second most important city in Tuscany, honouring it with long visits of his court. The function of this square as part of the court was enhanced by the renovation of houses and buildings; a large theatre for the town and the court - Teatro Rossi - was built at the northern end. The Augustinian friars commissionedthe architect Ignazio Pellegrini to renovate the west front of the S. Nicola monastery, with an entry from the square; By will of the Lorrraines, an untidy inelegant part of town was made into an attractive place, with a doubly eye-catching background, the monastery on one side and the theatre on the other.
Seen from Lungarno, the angle of the main building provided a diagonal wing that enhanced the depth of the perspective while from via della Pergola there was a dazzling axial view of the monastery. The statue of Ferdinand I by P. Francavilla, based on a drawing by Giambologna, was later moved from its place on the Lungarno to its present position at the focal point of the square.

DIMORA NOBILIARE
120m
Santa Maria , 19 p. 2
Recapito 050 8667249
GALILEO
140m
Via Santa Maria, 12
Recapito 339 1743810
AFFITTACAMERE DI VALTER PARDINI
140m
Santa Maria, 37 piano 3°
Recapito 340 4093733
LUNGARNO BELLAVISTA PENTHOUSE
150m
Lungarno Gambacorti, 26 p. 4
Recapito 328 3545208
DA MANUEL S.R.L.
100m
Via S. Maria, 25
Recapito 335 5613002
RISTORANTE AL VECCHIO TEATRO
110m
Via Collegio Ricci, 12
Recapito 050 20210
IL DADO DEL LUMIERE
140m
Lungarno Antonio Pacinotti, 21
Recapito 050 544529 ; 389 2359430
CRUPEL SRL
160m
Lungarno Pacinotti Antonio, 40
Recapito 050 2200423