After spending 3 heady days full of excitement in the Italian capital, we headed to Pisa.
Rome to Pisa is approx. 300 kilometres.
The best and most scenic way is to travel by train which takes about 4 hours from Rome Train Station to Pisa Central.
The train goes past beautiful coastal scenery as the entire track lies close to the sea. However, the cheapest way to travel to Pisa is by bus which takes about 6 hours.
Many people do day trips from Rome too. But since our trip to Rome had come to an end, we left for Pisa with our bags packed.
It's good to know a few basic things about Pisa -
1. If you're not planning to stay overnight in Pisa and have plans for a forward journey, you can put your luggage in a locker at the station itself. This is what most tourists do, this is what we did and it worked out to be quite convenient.
The Piazza del Duomo, also called the Square of Miracles, with its Leaning Tower of Pisa, is very close to the train station, just a 20-minute walk.
2. If you're interested in half-day or full-day guided tours of Pisa, then they are available from both, Rome and Florence. Although reaching Pisa on your own is also fairly straightforward and in my opinion, one doesn't really need a guided tour.
3. The Leaning Tower is a part of the Piazza del Duomo, also called the Square of Miracles.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It houses the four important structures, the Cathedral, the Leaning Tower, the Baptistry and the Cemetery.
4. Again, like everywhere else in Italy, the Square of Miracles, is very crowded. If you want to go to the top of the Leaning Tower, then book your tickets in advance. A strict schedule is followed with a limited number of visitors allowed to enter the tower, so advance bookings are a must.
5. Before booking tickets for the Leaning Tower, remember there are about 300 steps to the top on a spiral staircase. Once you reach the top with a tour group, you can spend about 30 minutes on the top to get beautiful views of the city and the cathedral.
6. The Square of Miracles has beautifully manicured gardens around the stunning white marble buildings. Everything about this place is serene and peaceful. One can easily spend at least 3 to 4 hours at the site even if one decides not to climb the tower.
7. The Cathedral is also a not-to-miss attraction. The intricate stonework on the exterior facade of the structure is breathtakingly beautiful. It's so delicate that it almost looks like lacework on the bodice of the church.
Like everyone else around, we just sat on the grass and kept looking at this mesmerizing piece of architecture.
8. Even the inside of the cathedral is equally beautiful. The famous marble pulpit is a delight to watch.
I don't understand much of art, but the pulpit, the ceiling and the columns, everything is so stunning to look at. If you're a history buff, then read about this architecture beforehand to not just see but also comprehend the beauty of this monument and the way it was developed and maintained over the years.
Entry to the cathedral is free but you have to present the ticket and register for a timeslot because as I've mentioned multiple times in all my Italy blogs, there are huge crowds everywhere.
9. If you have extra time on hand, then you must go to Borgo Stretto. This is a very happening street in Pisa. It's about a 10 to 12-minute walk from the Piazza del Duomo. The street is very busy since all the people who come to see the Leaning Tower come here too. But the vibe on the street is amazing. There are shops and eateries. You won't even need to look up your Google map. Just ask for Borgo and someone will guide you there.
10. If you want to explore the Tuscany region of Italy onward from Pisa, with its rolling landscapes and olive trees, then Pisa can serve as a gateway to the Northern Tuscany region. There are trains at one-hour intervals to Florence, the capital of Tuscany which makes travel very easy.
And this is exactly what we did. We boarded a train to Florence! See you in Florence here -
For more info on Italy, see the links below -
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