Leaning over

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pisa
August 9th 2006

Published: June 16th 2017

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jc80

01 Mosaics

This is the front of the church that was next to my hostel.

Geo: 43.5332, 10.7582

Decided to visit Pisa and see this leaning tower, considering it was only a 20 minute train ride. Once I arrived at the train station I walked for about 10 minutes, crossed the Arno river and came to the Piazza dei Miracoli (miracles). This is where all the tourists come and spend their time in Pisa. The main attraction of course is the leaning tower, also a cathedral, a baptistery and the cemetery. They are all made of dark green and cream marble. The leaning tower is on quite a lean, there were many people climbing it, I couldn't justify the €15 cost. Instead I walked around it and wondered if it was ever going to fall over. It is 54 metres high and took nearly 200 years to finish. I bought a multiple ticket to see the most poplar sights. The first place I went was the baptistery. It is a small round building with a dome top. The inside was very, very plain. No color, just white. It was built before the leaning tower and is the same height as the tower. I climbed the stairs to the gallery and was able to look down into the

02 Arno River

This is the Arno River, I am half way between the train station and the Leaning Tower.

baptistery. I then went into the cemetery, where they are many old sarcophagus's, tomb stones and some frescoes from the 14th century.
I went ate lunch and while I was eating I could see the leaning tower- was a good view! Next place to visit with my ticket was the Cathedral Museum. Favourite thing would be the huge choir books. They are as big as the big books I use at work and are beautifully decorated and are originals. Last place was the cathedral. Inside there were many frescoes, you could stare at it all day. Ate an ice-cream in the shade and then walked back to the train station. Nicely asked the ticket man when the next train to Lucca is. He scrunched up his face and pointed out the door and told me to walk 1km to the next train station. Strange I thought, as my train took me here, surely it also leaves from here. Asked the man at information and he said Platform 1 in 5 minutes!! And he was right. Some locals are so against tourists and try to make their stay unpleasant!

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