The most obvious reason for visiting Pisa is to see its world famous leaning tower but it can also be used as a gateway to explore the beautiful region of Tuscany (Florence is the more expensive option). I spent a day here and loved every minute of it, even though the intermittent showers tried their best to spoil my day. The lopsided tower of Pisa had fascinated me for a long time and I was really looking forward to this trip.
One day in Pisa is often enough as there is not a lot to see and the main tourist area can be covered by foot in an hour or so. Most trips to Pisa are usually combined with a few days in Florence trying to cram in all the sights there, which in itself can be pretty overwhelming. Somehow, I felt that in contrast to the bus loads that hit Florence, spending a day here eating, drinking and wandering the streets gives you a more authentic peek into the Italian way of life.
Pisa lies at the junction of two important rivers – the Arno and the Serchio. When it was established, it was a seaport and a major military & trade post. Pisa was part of the Roman empire and it played an important role for several centuries, with Genoa, Florence, and Venice as it’s main competition. A series of defeats against the Genoese started Pisa’s long decline and eventual crumbling. Eventually, Pisa came under Florence’s domain.
However, the architectural development remained and continued to flourish. The city consists of many beautiful museums & historical buildings. Galileo & Fibonacci were born here, so if you’re willing to deviate from the main attractions, you could add these birthplaces to your list of places to visit in Pisa.
Obviously, the main sight in the city is the leaning tower of Pisa. The construction of Tower of Pisa began in 1173 and continued for about 200 years due to the onset of a series of wars. It really is a most peculiar and impressive structure. You can climb to the top (€18) if you want the best views. Only 40 people at a time are allowed inside the tower and you need to be prepared to climb 300 stairs.
During WWII, the Allies suspected that the Germans were using the tower as an observation post. When a U.S. Army sergeant was sent to confirm the presence of German troops in the tower, he was so impressed by the beauty of the tower and cathedral that he refrained from ordering an artillery strike, sparing it from destruction.
Numerous efforts have been made to restore the tower to a vertical orientation or at least keep it from falling over. Most of these efforts failed; some worsened the tilt. The government of Italy had requested aid in preventing the tower from toppling. It was, however, considered important to retain the current tilt, due to the role that this element played in promoting the tourism industry of Pisa.
Pisa isn’t just about the Leaning Tower. Like most Italian cities, there is also a Duomo (Cathedral) and Piazza del Duomo. The Duomo is substantial and stunning - it was the biggest in Europe at the time when it was built. Then, there is the Baptistry (the circular building) which is very photogenic from the outside, but if you go inside, you can stand in the place where Galileo Galilei was baptized.
The Italians do many things well but food markets is something they excel at. This one, around Piazza delle Vettovaglie is a a great stop if you’re considering a picnic lunch or just to pretend for the briefest moment that you’re living the Italian way of life.
There’s something magical about the river Arno. I love how it guards the historic part of the city and how the colourful buildings reflect in its waters, especially with the mountains as the backdrop.
In the other side of town, I stumbled into a Sicilian food festival and could not resist spending a better part of an hour in this area. When I had stuffed myself to the limit, I sat back and enjoyed some soulful Italian music.
Life in Pisa is generally laid back, there is no heavy nightlife. Rather, everybody from students to the elderly spend nights with some drinks, finger food and long contemplative walks – the easy and good life.
I had a lovely time here - one place that I can cross off my bucket list. I had been waiting to visit Pisa for a long time and after my trip to this wonderful city, I had a feeling that it was worth the wait!
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