Kayak tour on the river Arno, Pisa (aperitif upon request)
Description
Discover the Tuscany city of Pisa from an original viewpoint and take unique selfies from the river Arno! Let our guide tell the story of the river Arno and its relationship with the city of Pisa while sipping a glass of wine to live the true Italian lifestyle! Relax your mind and get away from the crowd by paddling on the river Arno! Difficulty level: easy, suitable for anyone including families and groups of friends. Our expert will teach you how to be independent on the kayak and all the safety instructions. Start the tour at the Canottieri Arno headquarters (Lungarno Bonaccorso da Padule, 2, 56122 Pisa, Tuscany, Italy). The suggested tour lasts 2hrs. Enjoy the view of the Benedettine Monastery, Cittadella Tower, Santa Maria della Spina Church, National Royal Palace, Lanfreducci Palace, Palazzo Blu, Agostini Palace, Praetorian Palace, Lanfranchi Palace, San Matteo Church, and Scotto Garden. End the tour at the Canottieri Arno headquarters.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Monastero delle Benedettine (Benedictine Monastery): built in 1393, it was home to the Benedictine nuns until the ‘60s. Currently, the Monastery hosts Italian and foreign students and teachers from the University of Pisa and a convention hall. The current Neo-Gothic facade dates from 1850.
Chiesa S. Maria della Spina: the Pisan Gothic small church of S. Maria della Spina was built in 1230 on the riverbed of the Arno. Starting from 1333, the church kept as a relic a thorn of the crown of Christ, now exhibited in the church of S. Chiara. In 1871, the building was completely dismantled and rebuilt at a higher altitude; on this occasion the church was raised by about one meter.
Palazzo Agostini Venerosi della Seta (Agostini Palace): this palazzo was built between the late 14th century and early 15th centuries, but was only acquired by Mariano and Pietro Agostini, silk merchants, in 1496, who gave it its name. The façade, totally clad in Gothic terracotta mouldings, in the shapes of plants, human heads and heraldic designs, with double and triple mullioned windows, and the open loggia (later closed) on the top floor, make it one of the most important examples of domestic Gothic architecture in Tuscany. At street level is the Caffè dell’Ussero founded in 1775 (the palazzo is also known in Pisa as Palazzo dell’Ussero); it was the meeting place of famous scientists and erudite Italians and foreigners.
Ponte di Mezzo: The bridge is 89 metres long has a single arch 12.5metres high; it was constructed after being bombed by the Allied forces in WWII in reinforced concrete and faced with white Verona stone. Since the second half of the 17thcentury, the "Gioco del Ponte" has taken place on the bridge. It involves a struggle between teams from the two parts of Pisa, north and south of the river (Mezzogiorno and Tramontana), to win the bridge by pushing a heavy float into the adversary’s side of the bridge.
Palazzo Pretorio (Preatorian Palace): The Government building or Palazzo Pretorio, Headquarters of the Government Auditor and the Civil and Criminal Chancery, was one of the buildings involved in the process of renovation undertaken in the 18th and 19th centuries, that aimed to alter the medieval appearance of the town. It was reconstructed in 1953 by Sanpaolesi, who only partially based it on Gherardesca’s design. The ground floor loggia was extended to the whole length of the building and the clock tower was built taller.
Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace): Built between 1583 and 1587 by will of the Grand Duke Francis I de’ Medici, to a plan by the Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti, the palace is situated in a prestigious area of Pisa, where the residence of the Marquis of Tuscia stood in the 10th century. In the18th and 19th centuries the palace continued to be the residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Peter Leopold I particularly enjoyed spending the winter here because of the mild climate. After the unification of Italy, the Savoy family occasionally stayed here, giving it its present name.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- People need to have a basic understanding of swimming techniques
Reviews(16)
This was so much fun! We had Edoardo as our guide and he was the best! We had a fun time with him and he was so patient and gentle with us, I was a little scared at first for falling in the water but he reassured me that nobody has fallen in the water before We were only my husband and I and our guide so we got to small talk with Edoardo
Myself and my 16 year old son took the 7pm tour with Edo. It was so beautiful on the river, we got to hear live jazz music from a river bar, we seen beautiful birds and nature and our guide was super friendly, highly professional young man who made us feel at ease and told us about the surrounding areas and life in Pisa. Thanks Edo! Highly recommend
Great kayak trip on the Arno river! We had Gabriele as our guide and he was awesome and very knowledgeable. We loved how quiet it was compared to the tourist areas and you get to see the landscape change from urban to natural along the river with lots of fun surprises like planes flying over, jumping fish, and interesting historic buildings. We learned about Pisa, the surrounding area of Tuscany, and landmarks we passed. It was a really beautiful trip and very fun! 10/10 and ask for Gabriele when you book!
The guide very friendly, explained several things and was very attentive. The walk is worth seeing from another side. It's a unique thing.
I was really looking forward to the kayak trip on the Arno at sunset. Our group consisted only of our two friendly families. That made it very nice. Our guide was Gabriele. What a friendly boy he was! In the morning we were notified where and when we were expected. Every question was answered quickly and clearly. Everything was well supervised and there was no time pressure. He also told fun facts about Pisa. Of course, he took some nice group photos, which he sent the next day. And then the sunset: so magical, it was really amazing! Highly recommended. Beforehand I had sent another email because I had another question. The kayaks were for two, but I wanted to hear if my 10-year-old daughter could join as a Third party or the guide because there were 7 of us. The owner replied quickly to this and I was also reassured that there are solutions for this. He had also clearly passed this on to Gabriele. It's nice to see such clear communication. At the end of the trip the owner also came to meet us. Really nice man. Before departure you can change, there are showers, a toilet and you can safely leave your belongings. You also get a protective case for your smartphone. Everything was well arranged!
The kayak tour is an original and enjoyable activity. The city of Pisa at sunset is charming. The guide, Lorenzo, was very friendly.
A great experience, our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly, my son loved it because he loves fish and we saw some leaping out of the water. Felt really safe and organised with my 11 year old and I am queen of the anxious mums.
The trip is a relaxing pace along the Arno river. 2km each way. Watch out for flying fish - was super fun seeing them jump over our kayaks. Sightseeing wise it is limited but it’s still a different way to experience pisa.
Amazing Kajak tour with guide Francesco! He told us about Italy and recommended many places to visit during our stay!! Kayaking was really fun!
The welcome was a little uncoordinated. In the beginning, we were told quite little what to do and what not to do. The ride itself was very nice though and we were able to talk well with our guide. He also told us a lot of informative things.
