Mixed feelings heading to Pisa – really keen to see the world-famous tower, but heard it could be underwhelming. After visiting it, I sort of get it – the tower is quite a bit smaller than you’d probably have thought . . . but it is it’s surroundings that make the trip 100% worthwhile.
The combination of the Leaning Tower, Cathedral di Santa Maria Assunta (gobsmackingly beautiful, even considering all the other gobsmackingly beautiful cathedrals in Italy), Battistero di San Giovanni (the world’s largest baptistery), the Camposanto’s art and the lush green fields with old city walls surrounding make this 100% worth the visit.
Top tips:
- You only need 2 hours or so, so Pisa is really a half day trip at most.
- Online multi tickets. The Tower is obviously free to view, but entry into the other spots requires an online ticket. Its worth doing, simply for free access to the Cathedral – oddly they don’t charge, but you need an online ticket to enter – and you can pay from there to access other spots.
- 100% visit the Cathedral – it is magnificent- and the Battistero – I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
- If looking for a lunch spot that is away from the main crowds, I’d recommend the outside seating of Cantina Vasari.
- Tuscany more broadly – Pisa is just one spot of many in the mesmerising region of Tuscany. For some of the other highlights, see the travel entry for Tuscany – Renaissance Towns and Chianti Wine Country, specifically:
- Sienna – the gem ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Florence – busy but wow ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Lucca – charming ⭐️⭐️
- Chianti wine region – easy to fall in love ⭐️⭐️
- Vale d’Orcia – idyllic ⭐️⭐️