Why go
Start with the cathedral, baptistery, Campo Santo and leaning bell tower as one ensemble. Then compare the medieval religious setting with Vasari's Palazzo della Carovana in Piazza dei Cavalieri and the small marble church of Santa Maria della Spina beside the Arno.
The full story
The leaning tower is the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral, so the strongest first look is at the whole Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral, baptistery and Campo Santo cemetery create a monumental sequence rather than separate photo stops. Medieval walls frame the area and underline how distinct it is from the rest of town. Piazza dei Cavalieri offers another kind of public space. The Palazzo della Carovana has a facade designed by Giorgio Vasari, and the nearby church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri connects the square to the Order of Saint Stephen. Farther toward the Arno, Santa Maria della Spina changes the scale: a small, richly worked marble church stands by the river instead of across a broad lawn. This progression helps a visitor read Pisa's changing priorities, from medieval sacred display to later civic power and intimate riverside architecture. If time is limited, see the full cathedral ensemble before adding the civic square.