The Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri stands on Piazza dei Cavalieri, the former political heart of medieval Pisa. Its pale marble façade faces a square reshaped in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari, creating an ensemble that feels distinct from the city’s famous Piazza dei Miracoli.
The church was built for the Knights of Saint Stephen, a military and religious order founded by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1561. The order fought Ottoman and other fleets in the Mediterranean, and its naval history is visible inside: captured banners and ship lanterns hang beneath an elaborate painted wooden ceiling. The richly decorated interior offers an unusual glimpse of the overlap between faith, Medici power and seafaring ambition.
Allow time to look up at the ceiling, then explore the surrounding square, where the Palazzo della Carovana houses the Scuola Normale Superiore. The church is roughly a ten-minute walk from Piazza dei Miracoli. Opening hours can be limited or affected by services, so check the current schedule before visiting, and dress modestly for a place of worship.