Pisa
The Tuscan town Pisa (an hour by rail from Florence) used to have a fleet that reigned the Mediterranean Sea. Nowadays its Tower is known worldwide. The marble building is leaning over, and has always been.
Since its construction 8 centuries ago the Tower hasn't stood straight, and the defect deteriorates every year. A few years ago it even had to be seriously prevented from falling over.
Next to the tower on the Campo dei Miracoli are three other monumental medieval building works: the Duomo, the Battistero and the cemetary Campo Santo.
Visit May 2002
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Campo dei Miracoli, Field of Miracles - what a name. But the green lawn in northwestern Pisa, with its marble medieval monuments, does deserve it.
The leaning tower of course is the most famous attraction here. The beauty of the neighbouring 11th century cathedral and baptistry is stunning though. They dwarve the tower, both in size and elegance.
For a steep 15 euro (and some patience) you can do yourself the favour of climbing the tower. It takes about 300 marbles steps to get to the top, where large bells can be found on the edges of the highest platform. When you're on top you can sense that the surface under your feet isn't particularly straight. It's not called the leaning tower for nothing.
Reviews
Derek Paton (England):
Hi, I had a great time in Pisa, impromptu classical performances in the bell tower, a Bernada Fink concert,The locals, walks in the nature reserve, resturants, roman ruins, the light on the stone of the duomo ,colours, food, the cosmopolitan atmosphere, surrounding Tuscany, the list is endless I don't know about one day, for me one month wouldn't be enough. |
| Date posted: July 2008 |
Steve Waszak (United States of America):
Once you get past the cheap vendors, peddlars and pick pockets lining the approach to the Field of Miracles it is a truly beautiful place to see. All four white marble buildings in one large open area is a unique setting. Pisa needs to get the cheap vendors out of this area to make it what it really could be for people visiting from all over the world. I don't recommend it to friends visiting Italy because the vendors and pan handlers have ruined this priceless gem of art and architecture. Shame on the people of Pisa for letting this happen to their own heritage. |
| Date posted: April 2008 |
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The "piazza dei miracoli" is ine of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany.
The colours of the square are unics: Gren grass, the white Leaning Tower, and the reds roffs of the other city.
Ever in Pisa, there is a fantastique little whitw white church, nearby the river Arno.
Really beautiful!!! |
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Frederik Dawson (Netherlands):
 The first time I saw this place I truly understand why the Italian affectionately named it "Piazza del Miracoli". The three white marble buildings were situated in the middle of green lawn under the blue sky. I was impressed by the colours of white from marble, green from grass, blue from the crystal clear sky under the tuscan sun and brown from the surrounding brick wall.
After walking in the mazed-like small old town, I finally saw the famous "Torre Pandante", which is the most beautiful belfry I have seen. Even though this belfry was constructed for religious purposes, many people including me recognized it from the science schoolbook, and it's unusual lean structure. People around the world call it " The leaning tower of Pisa". As one of the symbol of Europe, millions of tourists come to admire its unique appearance every year.
For myself, the leaning of the belfry is not an important reason, but it's the marvelous of the whole complex, which is included the cathedral, the baptistery and the belfry, that make me to stun every time I have been there. The beauty of this place is deservedly its name "The place of a miracle" |
| Date posted: September 2006 |
Zack Culvert (USA):
Really disappointed, after seeing other sites in Tuscany. There is the tower, the Piazza, and an EMPTY duomo, as all the art were lost as the Pisans lost a war to the Florentines(?). Now it's just a tourist strip selling souvenirs, and thousands of stupid American tourists taking pictures leaning towards the tower. Better plan the day to spend four hours in Luca (on the train from Florence), and just one hour in Pisa, and go right back to Florence. |
| Date posted: June 2006 |
Ben Pastore (USA):
My visit here was at the age of eight years old. How my mother let my go climbing around those precarious stairs and ledges is beond me. Regardless, even at that tender age I remember the magnificent view and could tell that this was someplace special |
| Date posted: November 2005 |
evelyn (australia):
The leaning tower of pisa was a great place to be. Ut was quite a rainy day so overall it wasnt really fantastic. though i was able to climb those 300 marble steps all the way to the top. It was worth all that, the view was really over whelming. |
| Date posted: September 2005 |
Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
The Leaning Tower of Pisa must be one of the most of the most famous monuments in the world and going to this city gives you a distinct sense of déjà-vu - I must have seen this thing before! Well, apart from the Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa doesn't have that much to offer and is just an average city (especially because it has lost its once vibrant seaport centuries ago), but the piazza is really great and one of the grandest architectural ensembles you will see anywhere. So, even if many Italian cities have their own campanile, you should go to Pisa to see the real thing. |
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Graeme (UK):
After all the hype that the city receives, Pisa is a disappointment. The entire Piazza del Duomo is a giant tourist trap, and I still don't understand why this particular leaning tower, of all the leaning towers in Italy, gained such a reputation. I will say, however, that the Baptistery is interesting, particularly when the ticket collector performs an impromptu concert to demonstrate the perfect acoustics. Beyond the Piazza, Pisa offers little to the curious tourist, making even a day trip a bit underwhelming. |
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Vickie Smith (United States):
I was thrilled to see the Tower after hearing so much about it and seeing photos all my life. My husband didn't want to spend the money to climb it, but he changed his mind. We weren't sorry--ther were fantastic views, and we could very much sense the leaning while we climbed. I ended up climbing many towers in Tuscany because this was such a great experience. |
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Kate Mitchell (Great Britain):
I visited Pisa in August 2004. The first view of the tower was very exciting, probably because it is such a famous monument. I didn't climb the tower (it is now 16€), but greatly enjoyed the whole Piazza, the museums and especially the Cathedral. It's well worth getting the combined ticket (just €10.50) to see all that the Piazza del Duomo has to offer. |
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anthony (australia):
when i went to pisa in 1991 i got food poisoning on the second day so i spent most of the time in bed but when i did og out i climbed the tower and it was the best experience of my life |
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Gatis (Latvia):
I visited Pisa in August 2001. Then it was not aloud to climb the tower, but it was interesting to see the works of reinforcement ongoing there. |
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