Hotel San Ranieri

Walking through the doors of the Tron-like glass exterior of the San Ranieri feels a bit like entering the set of a sci-fi movie. The hotel is the futuristic brainchild of Pisanian architects Beniamino Cristofori and Salvatore Re, and designer Simone Micheli. Metal walls surround seating areas comprised of hard white couches and chairs, and the reception desk is tucked into a large rectangular window. There's more white furniture on the hotel's expansive green terrace, which also features futuristic plastic lounge chairs and  a few gazebos equipped with a massive square beds and pillows. Unusual bouquets of fresh flowers line the elevator and restaurant areas and the hallways are dark, with psychedelic murals of the city's famous Leaning Tower and of classic Tuscan buildings. White is the color of choice for the indoor/outdoor Squisitia Restaurant, the Wave Bar.

The San Ranieri is a short walk from the Cisanello Hospital, but reaching other area attractions requires driving or taking a bus from the nearest bus stop, a five-minute walk away. Congressi Palace and the Conference Center are five-minutes away by car while Pisa’s city center and central train station take about 10-minutes. The Galileo Galilei Airport is so close you can hear planes landing and taking off and takes about 10-minutes to reach by road. Florence is an hour-and-a-half away via a highway that runs right outside of the hotel.

There are 90 rooms and suites in all, each of which has a mini-fridge, a safe, and free (though spotty) Wi-Fi. Inset LED lighting casts a shadowy darkness in all the rooms, which are abundantly equipped with long rectangular mirrors that are hung both horizontally and vertically -- mirrors facing the comfortable beds have embedded TV sets. The rooms also feature long expanses of attached shelves and headboards. Red bathrooms include long half-door showers, hairdryers, bathrobes, luxury toiletries, and magnifying makeup mirrors. Past guests have complained that the air in the rooms smells stale. 

There is free outdoor parking at the San Ranieri as well as indoor parking and airport/downtown shuttle services for a fee. The hotel has two large meeting and convention areas equipped with audiovisual equipment. There is free (though unreliable in places) Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and a free breakfast buffet features fresh local eggs, bacon, sausages, local cheeses, fruit, and pastries. The Squisitia Restaurant offers Tuscan meat and seafood specialties and has a gluten-free menu, while the Wave Bar serves unusual cocktails along with more predictable teas and pastries. There is a private wine bar that can be reserved for groups and the hotel offers organized tours in San Rossore Park. Small pets are allowed for a fee.