Piazza dei Cavalieri is an amazing square, maybe designed by Vasari. This is as worth visiting as Piazza dei Miracoli and home to the most prestigious University in Italy: Scuola Normale Superiore. Stand in the middle. This square was also known as Piazza delle 7 Vie (Square of the 7 streets) because of the many streets conflating to this square. This was the location of the old Roman Forum and heart of the political power during the Pisan Republic. The square was renovated in the 16th century by the Medici family after the Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen was created. Cosimo I of the Medici family wanted this square to be wonderful and a symbol of strength and power.

The statue in the middle (1596) represents him and it is located on the Fontana del Gobbo. The beautiful building behind the statue is called Palazzo della Carovana. It was built by Vasari in 1562 and it's home to the Scuola Normale Superiore created by Napoleon. The building with the arch on the left is Palazzo dell'Orologio (the Palace of the Clock). It is the library of the Scuola Normale Superiore, but it is interesting especially because it was built connecting two medieval towers, Torre della Giustizia and Torre dei Gualandi. This latter, on the right, is also know as Torre della fame (Tower of hunger) or Tower of Count Ugolino. The legend says that he was left to starve here with his children, whom he ate. The building was built by the Vasary as hospital. On the right-hand side of Palazzo della Carovana there is the beautiful church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. In the church there are several flags conquered during fights with pirates. Interesting also is a statue by Donatello. Opposite the church there is Palazzo della Canonica, which used to be the residence of the Knights and beside it is the Palazzo dell'Ordine dei Cavalieri. Next to this latter building there is the Collegio Puteano and the little church of the Oratorio di San Rocco.

At the eastern end of the riverfront road Lungarno Mediceo is the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo (Tues - Sat 9 am - 7 pm, Sun 9 am - 2 pm. Most of the major works of art from Pisa's churches are now gathered here, including a St Paul by a young Masaccio, an oddly festive Crucifixion by Gozzoli, and another Crucifixion by Turino Vanni that clearly shows the Leaning Tower. The sculpture collection is led by two outstanding works - Donatello's gilded bronze bust of an introspective San Lussorio, and Andrea and Nino Pisano's Madonna del Latte, a touchingly crafted work showing Mary breastfeeding the baby Jesus.

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