The small squares and medieval lanes around Sancasciani street, make of this spot a picturesque place, perfect to do shopping immersed in the quiet atmosphere of the ancient district of Chinzica. Since the 11th century this was the commercial heart of Pisa. In 1850 a foundry and a brass workshop rose here.

The Sancasciani street, former called Carraia Gonnelle, was named after the Sancasciani Hospital, founded in 1591 by Baldassarre Ludovici from San Cassiano. The street is becoming an important commercial hub thanks to the bookshops, bakers,
and restaurants that serve typical Italian and Pisan food. Every weekend of the year, until late at night, the street is livened up by numerous clubs.

In front of the Del Carmine church, is the statue of Nicola Pisano, dating back to the 16th century. Nicola Pisano was called “De Apuleia” and he was the sculptor who made the pulpit of the Baptistery (1260).

Opposite to it, in Corso Italia n 76-88, is the Rosselmini Gualandi Palace: until 1870,it belonged to the Venerosi Pesciolini.
In the garden of the palace is a small lake and a temple of marble that in former times contained a nowadays lost statue of San Giovanni, called Giovannino. The Pesciolini family did not attach any importance to that statue so that sometimes young people flung matches at it.
A year later, when Rosselmini bought the palace, the statue was attributed to Michelangelo and the family sold it, earning three times as the price of the palace itself.
In 1922 the Rosselmini Gualandi family left its properties to the Cottolengo Hospital.