Why DiscoveryPisa Exists — Our Story as Pisa Local Guides
To be a Pisa local guide is at the heart of everything we do.
We started DiscoveryPisa out of love: love for Pisa, its stories, its stones, and its hidden corners.
What began as a tour guide’s dream became a mission: to offer high-quality guided tours that show the real Pisa, not just the postcard.
For years, we watched visitors rush from monument to monument, taking the same photos, hearing the same scripted lines, leaving without ever understanding why Pisans are so fiercely proud of their city.
Too many tours feel like checkpoints, ticking off monuments like boxes:
Tower? Check.
Cathedral? Check.
Baptistery? Check.
But where is the feeling?
Where is the spark that makes travel unforgettable?
We wanted something different.
DiscoveryPisa was born from the belief that culture, art, and history should be accessible to everyone: not dry, not overwhelming, not rushed.
That’s why we design tours for small groups, with licensed, passionate guides who genuinely care about the experience you’re having.
Whether it’s your first time in Pisa or you’re returning wanting something deeper, we’re here for you.
Let us guide you beyond the obvious: to the stories, the secrets, and the soul of the city , shared the way locals share with friends.
Meet Your Pisa Local Guides
Here are the people behind the voices. The ones who know the cobblestones, the legends, and the best gelato spots.
The ones who will probably remember your name, where you’re from, and what surprised you most during the tour.
These are the humans that make DiscoveryPisa… DiscoveryPisa.
Andrea D. Maraver — Founder, CEO & Official Tour Guide
Licensed tour guide with 15+ years of experience in Pisa.
Languages: Spanish (native), Italian, English.
Andrea founded DiscoveryPisa with the vision of transforming the way travelers experience Pisa.
Originally from Madrid, she came to Pisa on an Erasmus exchange and never really left — what was meant to be a semester turned into a life.
With more than 15 years as a licensed guide, she brings both expertise and affection to every visit, along with a unique ability to make history feel effortless and fun.
Walking with Andrea is like walking with someone who has lived a thousand lives in this city. She doesn’t just show you where things happened, she makes you imagine them: merchants arriving from the Mediterranean, artists chiseling marble under the Tuscan sun, Galileo as a child wandering the same streets you’re walking now.
The first thing Andrea likes to show first-time visitors isn’t the Tower itself, but the city walls: a symbol of power, she explains, precisely because they had to be defended.
Her tours feel warm, welcoming, and deeply personal. Many visitors say it feels like reconnecting with an old friend who just happens to know everything about Pisa.
Anastasia Sierp — Director & Tour Guide
Licensed tour guide and Director of Operations at DiscoveryPisa
Languages: Italian, English, German.
Favourite tours to lead: mixed groups — families, couples, and solo travellers together — where she can read the room and adapt on the spot
Anastasia is the creative mind and gentle soul of DiscoveryPisa. A natural storyteller with deep historical knowledge, she has that rare gift of making people instantly feel comfortable, whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, a family with kids, or a group of friends.
Her tours are crafted with precision and heart. She notices the details others miss: the angle of a capital, the expression of a medieval sculpture, the symbolism hidden beneath a fresco.
She invites curiosity, encourages questions, and creates an atmosphere where learning feels like adventure, not obligation.
With Anastasia, sightseeing becomes storytelling and storytelling becomes connection.
Denis Lema — Tour Guide
Licensed tour guide guiding in Pisa since 2017
Languages: Spanish (native), Italian, English, Galician]
Originally from Santiago de Compostela, Denis joined DiscoveryPisa to bring a bit of wandering heart and wide cultural perspective to the team.
His international background helps him connect with travelers from all over the world, making them feel at home in Pisa.
Having grown up near the end of the Camino de Santiago, Denis is drawn to Pisa’s own history as a stop for medieval pilgrims and traders — a parallel he likes to bring up on tour.
Clear explanations, a friendly approach, and respect for different languages and backgrounds: Denis makes sure that history and art are accessible and enjoyable for everyone who walks with him.
What Makes DiscoveryPisa Different From Others
Small Groups — Big Connections
We deliberately keep our groups small (max 15 people) to make each tour personal. That way, you’re not a number, you’re a guest! We learn your name, answer your curiosities, and adapt to your pace. It’s a simple philosophy, but it changes everything.
Pisa Local Guides Who Live and Breathe the City
Our team doesn’t just know Pisa — they live it, love it, and celebrate it every day.
We know the quiet corners, the legends whispered over generations, the places where the morning light hits the marble just right and qhere to have the best cofee.
No script can compete with real love for a place.
Flexible, Friendly, Multilingual
Our tours run year-round and in four languages: English, Spanish, German, and Italian.
We tailor our tours to your interests: whether you love history, architecture, food, or a bit of everything.
More Than Just Sightseeing: A Real Experience
With us, you don’t just see Pisa.
You feel it.
You understand why stones matter, why legends survive, why locals still smile at the same jokes pilgrims heard centuries ago.
This is not mass tourism.
It’s meaningful travel, shaped by people who care.
Why It Matters — For You
If you spend only a few hours in Pisa, who you spend them with shapes everything.
With DiscoveryPisa, you’re not following a script. You’re walking with people who love their city — and want you to love it, too.
You’ll leave with more than photos: you’ll leave with memories, stories, and maybe even a new perspective on travel.
Frequently Asked Questions about the People Behind DiscoveryPisa
Yes! All our Pisa local guides are officially licensed, native or fluent in multiple languages, with years of experience guiding travelers.
We offer tours in English, Spanish, German, and Italian. On request, additional languages may be available.
We keep our groups small — usually no more than 15 people — to ensure a personal, comfortable, flexible experience.
Yes, if the guide is available on your selected tour date, we’ll be happy to match you.
Absolutely. We focus on personal connection, storytelling, flexibility, and local insight, not on mass tourism.
Yes, we offer both. Our small group tours (max 15 people) run on fixed schedules, while private tours can be tailored to your dates, pace, and interests — perfect for families, couples, or anyone wanting a more personal experience.
Definitely. While our core tours cover the highlights of Piazza dei Miracoli and the historic center, we’re happy to adapt the focus toward what interests you most, just let us know when booking.
