Are you thinking of visiting Pietrasanta? It’s definitely worth a visit, especially for a half day. The town has a lovely pedestrian center, plenty of outdoor (and indoor) art, and it makes a great combo with beach in the morning or afternoon.
Our family lives nearby, and we visit Pietrasanta as a family, with visiting friends, and on date nights.
Below I’ll walk you through an easy-to-follow, general itinerary for a half day in Pietrasanta (that I’ve used). You can tweak it to fit your wants and needs. For example, if you love art, stretch out the time you spend looking at the outdoor sculptures and visiting galleries.
Andiamo – Let’s go!
Visiting as a family? Check out my guide to Visiting Pietrasanta with Kids
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase from the links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Please see our Disclaimer for more information.
Table of Contents
First – Should You Visit Pietrasanta?
I mentioned that Pietrasanta is full of art, so if that’s your thing, you shouldn’t skip Pietrasanta. Who else will love Pietrasanta? Those seeking:
- A quiet town/village with pedestrian streets worth wandering
- Somewhere to pair with a visit to the nearby beaches
- Foodie experiences
- Outdoor dining (plenty of choices here)
- Unique art galleries, clothing shops, and interior décor boutiques
- Somewhere visited by Italians (not just tourists)
- Romance
- Art, without tons of museum visits
- A town/village to visit from cities like Florence, Pisa and Lucca
You may want to skip Pietrasanta if you’re looking for large museums, water activities (although the beach is nearby), or international chain stores.
The Best Times to Visit Pietrasanta
This has two parts: time of the year and time of the day.
I enjoy Pietrasanta year-round, but the lively, joyful, best version of Pietrasanta is found in the summer. However, if you’re not a fan of heat and heavy sweating, skip a midday visit. I find it hard to locate shade in Pietrasanta (unless you’re tucked under a canopy at a bar.
Winter visits are quiet, but you can still enjoy most of what Pietrasanta has to offer. To me, it’s the lively vibe that’s missing in the winter, but you can still see art, visit galleries, have aperitivo, etc.
Read more about visiting Tuscany in the Spring – Summer – Fall – Winter
Half-Day Itinerary for Pietrasanta
Ready to head to Pietrasanta?
Park in Piazza Statuto. It’s pay parking (use the machines, you can pay with credit card too). There’s a weekly market on Thursdays, so if you’re visiting on a Thursday, I’d park (paid) along Via Vallecchia and walk into town (on your way in, you’ll pass the town’s famous Warrior Statue).
Stroll down Via Giuseppe Mazzini. This pedestrian street is full of shops, from clothing boutiques to art galleries. There are a few international chains (like United Colors of Benetton), but for the most part, they’re local shops. Window shop or go in! You’ll finish at Piazza del Duomo.
Marvel at Piazza del Duomo and the art currently on display. The art and sculptures in the piazza are rotated, so it looks different from one year to the next. Walk around and peek around corners to see where you can find more art (like between the church and the bell tower).
Walk up to the Rocca. From the middle of Piazza del Duomo, you can see the ruins of la rocca (the fortress) Walk uphill on Via della Rocca and stay right (uphill) at the T-intersection. At the top, you can’t go into the fortress, but you can turn around and check out the views of Pietrasanta and the land all the way out to the sea.
Sit on the big bench. On your way back down, take a seat!
Walk back down to the center. Be careful, as it’s steep and the stones can be slippery.
Get something to eat in the main piazza. Depending on the time of day, have a meal or sip on a cool drink.
Wander over to the Museo dei Bozzetti. Even if it’s not open, walk through to the back outdoor area (right here) and see the fun, quirky, enormous sculpture models. There’s even a huge David bust in the yard. Don’t miss this place!
Make your way back to your car. You can walk back the way you came into town on Via Mazzini, or take a smaller, charming, parallel street – Via Stagio Stagi.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Pietrasanta!
Nighttime Note: If you’re coming into Pietrasanta for aperitivo and dinner, you can follow the above itinerary, minus the climb up to La Rocca (you don’t want to get sweaty in your dinner clothes!).
Where to Eat in Pietrasanta
No matter what time of day you end up exploring, you’ll want to stop at some point for a snack or a meal. There are a ton of options, so if you walk by a place and it calls to you, go for it! If you want some recs, check these out:
Pietrasanta Lunch and Snack Options
La Pinseria 55045 – Focaccia and pinsa. A few tables outside. It’s not as scenic as the pedestrian area of town, but the food is good!
Carrefour Express – Grab a snack or picnic items for the hike up to La Rocca and have a meal with a view.
Badiani – The famed Florentine gelateria (one of my favorites) has a branch in Pietrasanta.
Iris Bar Caffe or Bar Michelangelo – If your goal is to soak up the scene and have a cocktail or glass of wine, these are perfect spots. They both have outside, shaded seating areas right on Piazza del Duomo.
Pietrasanta Dinner Options
We love evening dinners on Pietrasanta’s small side streets (try Pinocchio a Pietrasanta, Ristorante Quarantuno, or Il Giglio). Vegan? If so, Sementis is your spot. If you’re looking more for fine dining, head to Filippo (if you don’t mind eating indoors).
You may want to check out Michelin-Star Restaurants in Tuscany
Options for What to Do with the Rest of Your Day
If you’ve got time to fill before or after your visit to Pietrasanta, you could:
Spend it in Pietrasanta! Have a couple of lazy meals. Check out art galleries and interior décor shops. Look for more sculptures (there are some outside of the center too, like the circle of the wind in the lot where you parked your car). Linger at aperitivo. Practice your italiano with a nonno (grandfather). It’s easy to pass time in Pietrasanta.
Relax at the beach. Both Forte dei Marmi (chicer than chic) and Marina di Pietrasanta are just a bike ride or quick drive away.
Tour the marble quarries of Carrara. And if you’ve got your hiking shoes with you, make your way to the David mural in the quarries.
Read about these and more in What to See & Do Near Forte dei Marmi
Want to Spend the Night in Pietrasanta?
Be like in-the-know Florence residents who seek out rooms for rent on sites like AirBnB and Booking.com. They often stay for a week (or 5 weeks!), but you can find rooms for a night or two as well.
Or, stay nearby at the seaside in Forte dei Marmi or Marini di Pietrasanta.
Pietrasanta Hotel Options
Residenza Palazzo Visdomini – 5-star luxury suites in the center of Pietrasanta. Feels like you’re staying in your art-loving friend’s home. Courtyard hidden garden, small pool, shaded sitting area.
Residenza Palazzo Visdomini -> info & rates.
Albergo Pietrasanta – 4-star, light-filled hotel with small-but-noticeable art touches throughout the property. Shaded courtyard with greenery. On one of my favorite streets in Pietrasanta, Via Garibaldi.
Albergo Pietrasanta -> info & rates.
Ai Teatri B&B – Quirky and colorful B&B in Pietrasanta’s center. Room themes are theaters in Italy.
Ai Teatri B&B -> info & rates.
And, that’s a wrap! I hope you have a lovely visit to Pietrasanta!
