April 6th-7th – Pisa

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Luckily Dorothy had no problems with the roads since leaving Padova and we found our next campsite, with no detours, just after noon. It was less than 1km from ‘Torre Pendente’ - the Leaning Tower, so we decided to walk there that afternoon after lunch. The Leaning Tower was definitely a sight to see and not only because of it’s less than vertical stature. The Piazza del Duomo, also known as the Campo dei Miracoli (The Field of Miracles), which includes the Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery - were most impressive with their white carved marble and cast bronze doors on the Cathedral, all surrounded by a large lawn area which you were actually free walk on. There was also, unfortunately, a big long row of stalls along the side of the piazza selling all manner of tourist souvenirs which spoilt it a bit and Spring Break meant that there were bus loads of students, but that was ok. We carried on from there to the Piazza dei Cavalieri, the historic heart of Pisa and the site of the famous university where Galileo taught (or was taught, or both), the Scuola Normale Superiore. We also wandered down the main commercial street to the River Arno and back to the Piazza del Duomo. The main commercial street was interesting in that there were all the labels and fashion shops you would expect in any European city, but all set into these old (about 13C I think) buildings, but there was not really much else of great interest to see so we wandered back to the campsite. Dinner was supplemented that night with one of the lovely bottles of Chianti we bought at Portofino, drunk from plastic cups - oh well, you can’t have everything I guess.
Next morning we were off to see the little town of Lucca, about half an hour away.

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Photos

Pisa
The Piazza del Duomo - The Field of Miracles with the Baptistery, Duomo and the Leaning Tower

Pisa
The cast bronze door of the Duomo cast in 1602.

Pisa
The Field of Miracles, complete with 'Spring Breakers'

Pisa
Scuola Normale Superiore in the Piazza dei Cavalirei complete with facade by Vasari - Galileo's old haunt.

Pisa
The columns and busts of the Baptistery