Housed in part of a monastery dating from the 11th century, the National Museum of San Matteo is a must for those eager to retrace the history of medieval art in Pisa, but also provides an interesting few hours for casual browsers. The museum has several permanent collections of Pisan art through the ages, covering painting from the 12th to the 15th centuries, medieval ceramics and sculpture from the 14th and 15th centuries.

The collections, though limited in scope, provide an interesting insight into the trends, and the movers and shakers, of the local art scene throughout the first half of the last millennium. Particularly impressive are the various p ... continue

For 4-6 servings:

• 1 kg minced veal
• A few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley
• 2 slices day-old bread, soaked in 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
• 1 small onion, coarsely chopped
• 800 g ready-made tomato passata
• ½ garlic clove
• 1 egg, beaten
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine the veal, parsley, egg and soaked bread in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mould the mixture into 20 meatballs and fry gently in a pan with the olive oil, carrot, celery and onion. Add the tomato passata and ... continue