The Logge di Banchi is a 17th-century covered trading hall in the centre of Pisa, beside Piazza XX Settembre and the Ponte di Mezzo. Its broad stone arches give the busy riverside square a sense of proportion and shelter, making it an easy monument to pause at while exploring the city on foot.
Built under Medici rule in the early 1600s, the loggia was designed for markets associated with Pisa’s silk and wool trade. It belongs to a later chapter in the city’s history, after the maritime republic had become part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Rather than celebrating Pisa’s medieval naval power, it speaks to the practical business of a working commercial town.
The setting is as appealing as the architecture. From beneath the arches, you can watch people cross between the piazza and the Arno before continuing over the bridge to Borgo Stretto and Piazza delle Vettovaglie. The loggia is a modest counterpoint to the grand marble monuments around the Leaning Tower, and a useful reminder that there is more to Pisa than its most famous sight.
Visit in the morning if you want to combine the stop with the nearby market, or come in the early evening as the streets fill with people heading out for an aperitivo. The loggia is roughly a 15-minute walk from Pisa Centrale station and is best visited as a short stop on a wider walk through the historic centre. Keep an eye out for cyclists in the surrounding streets.