I bet you can guess where we went yesterday. Pisa, Italy! I was surprised to see that Pisa is just a short drive down the road from our place in Lucca. We were thankful the rain let up just enough to have an afternoon at one of Italy’s most iconic places to visit. Plus, it was a normal drive and we found easy parking. No white-knuckle moments here.
We spent a few hours touring the Cathedral of Pisa, Baptistery of St John, Monumental Church Yard, and the Museum of the Cathedral Vestry Board. We also walked around the Leaning Tower of Pisa but didn’t climb the 251 steps to the top. We wanted to give our knees a rest. I really enjoyed taking our time and taking in all sights.
The Cathedral was beautiful and very peaceful. We have been to many cathedrals, and they still give me a sense of peace and awe. The Cathedral was built in the 12th century and has had very few changes to it through the centuries. The Baptistry on the outside is distinctive and the carvings that go all around the building are well done. The inside is very simple and underwhelming when you compare it to the Cathedral. The acoustics are amazing.
The leaning bell tower is an engineering puzzle. It continues to move and there have been efforts to keep it from leaning further.
We loved people watching. It was fun to count how many people were trying to take that fun pose of holding up the tower. I resisted the urge, but it was temping.
The museum and the Monumental Church yard are a must see as well. Most people come to see the tower and miss these gems. We felt it was worth the time and the inexpensive cost for a ticket.
Even thought Pisa can be very touristy, it is still a must see. I hope you add it to your bucket list of places to see.
My lean was not intentional, but funny I didn’t even know I was doing it.
Wanderlust or Bust 