Pisa

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Pisa City on the River Arno, Tuscany, w central Italy. Already an important Etruscan town, Pisa prospered as a Roman colony from c.180 bc. In the Middle Ages, it was a powerful maritime republic but later came under Florentine domination. It is noted for its 12th-century ‘Leaning Tower’, an eight-storey circular campanile. The bell-tower is 54m (177ft) high, and is now c.6.5m (18ft) out of perpendicular. Industries: tourism, textiles, glass, machine tools. Pop. (1999) 91,977.

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