National Museum of San Matteo

Housed in a former Benedictine convent on the Arno, Pisa’s National Museum of San Matteo offers a focused look at Tuscan art from the 12th to 16th centuries. Highlights include refined wooden crucifixes, terracotta by della Robbia, and paintings by Simone Martini, Masaccio, and Fra Angelico, many rescued from Pisa’s churches. Intimate galleries and clear labeling make it easy to appreciate evolving styles from Romanesque to early Renaissance. It’s a rewarding stop for art and history lovers seeking quieter, well-curated collections beyond the Leaning Tower, with manageable crowds and a strong sense of local heritage.