Pisa, Italy

Today brought rain showers in the early morning but the poor weather did not deter us from traveling to Pisa, Italy for the day! After an hour train ride we arrived in Pisa and were happy to discover the rain had cleared. Instead of participating in a trip leader tour, we collectively decided to take part in a self-guided walk of the city’s main tourist attractions. This one-hour stroll began at the Pisa Centrale Train Station and ended at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Artist: Keith Haring

Ponte di Mezza

First stop: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. As Pisa was considered strategic in WWII, both the train station and its main bridge were targeted. There are makeshift walls that surround this square and the piazza is being rebuilt presently. This artistic wall, just to the left of the piazza, was painted by American artist Keith Haring in 1989. He brought the NYC graffiti into the mainstream and this painting celebrates diversity, chaos, and the liveliness of our world.

We walked through Corso Italia, which cuts through the center of the town and is considered Pisa’s main drag. Many stores and boutiques offer a paradise for the shopaholic!

Ponte di Mezza

Crossing over the Ponte di Mezza marked the center of Pisa. In the Middle Ages, this bridge (just like Florence’s Ponte Vecchio) was lined with shops. It no longer lends itself to a shopping district, however, the great views from the center of the bridge allow for a great photo-op.

After, we snapped some shots at Piazza Garibaldi, which is a square named for the charismatic leader of the Risorgimento, the unification movement that led to Italian independence in 1870. The next piazza happened to be Piazza dei Cavalieri. With its old clock and colorfully decorated palace, this piazza was once the seat of the independent Republic of Pisa’s government. The frescoes on the exterior of the square’s buildings reflect Pisa’s fading glory under the Medicis. With Napolean, this entire complex of grand buildings became part of the University of Pisa.

Ponte di Mezza

Finally we rounded the corner and caught a glimpse of the Leaning Tower itself! A 15 foot lean from the vertical makes the Tower one of Europe’s most recognizable images. The tower is nearly 200 feet tall and 55 feet wide and currently leaning at a 5 degree angle. The Tower was built over two centuries by at least three different architects. You can see how each successive architect tried to correct the leaning problem – once halfway up, and once at the belfry on the top. My roommates and I took the liberty of taking those “corny” pictures pretending to “hold up” the Tower!

Piazza Garibaldi

Next to the Tower stands the Duomo (which simply means Cathedral). This Pisan Romanesque cathedral, with its carved pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, is artistically more important than its more famous bell tower. This Duomo is the centerpiece of the Field of Miracles complex. The bronze back doors at the Tower end were designed by Bonnano Pisano and have different panels that show Christ’s story. Because it was a Sunday we were unable to tour inside the Duomo but the magnificence of the outside was satisfying enough. Also, the round Babptistery, located in front of the Duomo, is the largest in Italy.

Piazza dei Cavalieri

Duomo

Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Baptistry

This day trip to Pisa allowed us to see the number one attraction known around the world: the Leaning Tower. After catching a train back to Firenze, we are all excited to cook a family dinner together in the apartment!