Pisa

Most people say to not bother going to Pisa. It’s a leaning tower and a bunch of fools taking weird pictures with it. They’re right about the picture taking part at least.

We took the train from Lucca and spent about 4 hours in Pisa and it was well worth the time spent. Pisa is a lovely town with lots of shops to browse through on the way to and from the Piazza del Duomo.

On the way to the piazza, we stopped at Piazza dei Cavalieri to see Dolmenweb, a renaissance square, home to the palace of the first Medici, Cosimo I.

As we walked through the charming streets we could see the dome of the cathedral in the distance. Dotting the streets as we neared were many restaurants with outdoor seating. The one we chose after our morning of sightseeing was Ristoro Pizzeria Da Antonio.

After just a few more minutes we walked out into the open where we could see the tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery. All of the buildings were a gleaming white that caught the sun just so.

We didn’t climb the tower but did see people at the top. Instead of waiting to climb up, we went to the Cathedral to walk around inside, and it was another spectacular Italian work.

Next we walked over to the Baptistery. While there a woman entered and sang to show how the acoustics echoed off the walls. It was quite amazing and something not to be missed.

Behind the Cathedral and Baptistery is the Camposanto, an elegant cemetery for famous Pisans set around a cloistered quadrangle. The sacred soil was brought here from Golgotha during the fourth crudsade. The tombs are buried in the floor of the hallways, and there are side rooms with other relics in them.

The last building on our walk was the Museum. There were a lot of restored frescos that were relocated from a cemetery on the walls and on the main floor a film about the tower and how they supported it, so it wouldn’t lean more, and I believe lessened the angle of the lean.

You can buy a ticket ahead of time that is good for entrance to all of these buildings.

On your way back to the train station, if you came that way, stop at Manzi Il Gelato Pisa for a treat.

So is Pisa a waste of time? I sure don’t think so. If you’re coming from Florence, spend the morning here, and then the afternoon and evening in Lucca, about 20 minutes away by train.