I booked this hotel through itwg, a great site. The hotel is on the opposite side of the Arno from the main attractions of Pisa… the Leaning Tower etc., which are about a 10 or 15 minute walk. On the other hand, Via Mazzini is next to and runs parallel with Pisa’s main shopping and promenading street, Corso Italia. That also places it close to the train station.
There don’t seem to be a lot of places to eat nearby, but I could be mistaken. There is a good-looking pizzeria just up the street in the Piazza Victor Emanuele II and the hotel was able to recommend a very good restaurant just 30 yards away. By the time you arrive, it may have its own… renovations were on-going for at least a bar… and with the space involved, I suspect a restaurant.
It is a charming place. Our room was queen or king bedded (I have a hard time telling in European hotels… is the bed large or is the room just small?) with an armoire and mini bar and shuttered windows overlooking the street. The bath was four pieces (no tub). It was all extremely clean, bright and well-decorated. The rate of 110 Euros included a buffet breakfast which was very good. There was a diminutive, monitored parking lot – the price is posted at 20 Euros but it was given for a more reasonable (?) ten. I suspect in summer you will have to pay 20 Euros… 65 rooms + 10 parking spaces = demand.
The hotel does not accept traveller’s cheques, but they offered a five Euro discount if I paid cash. Last note… the hotel does have a Chrysler mini-van… they will pick you up at the airport or perhaps even the station.