Someone pinch me ! This has been another bucket list destination I get to check off and just wow…read morewow wow ! The Leaning Tower of Pisa is amazing to see up close & personal, truly an iconic sight. The lean of the tower seems to be much more noticeable in the flesh, even though they say it's only a 5% lean ! We walked up all the steps and you definitely noticed the lean as soon as you enter the tower. The views from the top are breathtaking! We booked our tickets direct on the day & went up at 21:30, much cooler & quieter. It was amazing .

It's a one and done "Target list" item. Super touristy as expected. NOTE: to go up into the TOWER,…read morethe cost is 20 euro AND you must purchase tix during avail times --which you can do onsite. If you have limited time on a tour--I would purchase these straightaway upon arrival. For the church is free, HOWEVER there is a dress code such as shoulders/knees must be covered.

This church is HUGE!…read more It is beautiful...beyond beautiful inside. The ornate details and architecture is outstanding. I sat in here for a while pondering life...

I know that when many people hear of the town of Pisa, they think of the famous Leaning Tower, but…read morethere is so much more to see there than just that - such as the Pisa Cathedral. Pisa is very easy to visit from Rome or Florence via train for a day trip (or for several days, if you're wanting to stay longer!) We visited as a stopover on our Trenitalia trip back to Rome from Cinque Terre's Manarola. We only had about 4 hours in Pisa before we had to head back to our train, so we made our way directly toward the Piazza dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower, but the Pisa Cathedral was surprisingly just as beautiful and impressive! You cannot see the Cathedral or any other of the Piazza dei Miracoli buildings by driving by or standing outside on the street. You have to go through a small marketplace of vendors to get to the archway entry. Once inside the entryway, that is where you will see the buildings you are looking for in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The Il Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta (Pisa Cathedral) holds so much beauty and history. The art inside, including the architecture, woodworking, paintings, and sculptures, will have you just walking around in awe for quite a while. One piece of extreme interest to view is Galileo's Lamp. It is a replica of the lamp that hung in the exact same spot in the Cathedral when Galileo visited as a young man in the 1600s. Galileo saw the lamp swinging like a pendulum, giving him the impetus to investigate and discover the principle of isochronism and leading him on the path to become the famed historical scientist we study today. With all of its beauty, history, and things to learn and see, definitely stop in Pisa if you're in Italy. And don't only stop at the Leaning Tower, because missing the beautiful Cathedral would be a huge mistake!

An amazing piazza right near the tourist piazza that everyone goes to. Well worth the 5 minute…read morewalk to see such an iconic location.

The Puazza dei Cavalieri or Knights' Square' is a landmark and the 2nd main square of Pisa. This…read moresquare was the political center in medieval ages. In the 16th century the square became the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen. Now it is the main house of the Scuola Normale di Pisa, part of the University founded by Napoleon. The main building on the square is Palazzo della Carovana, the palace of the Knights of St. Stephen; formerly the Palace of the Elders. It was modernised in Renaissance style & decorated with graffiti. In front of the palace is the large statue of Cosimo I de Medici, who also designed the Palace of the Priors in 1603. The Palazzo dell'Orologio, which is referred to in Dante's Inferno is in another corner.

The Piazza dei Miracoli, formally known as Piazza del Duomo, is located in central Pisa. It's…read morerecognized as an important center of medieval art and probably one of the finest architectural complexes. I'd say you won't miss this plaza if you're visiting Pisa.

A trip to Italy would not be complete without a stop in Pisa for the "Square of Miracles"!…read more We visited Pisa as a stopover on our Trenitalia trip back to Rome from Cinque Terre's Manarola. We only had about 4 hours in Pisa before we had to head back to our train, so we made our way directly toward the Piazza dei Miracoli - and it was awe inspiring! Such beauty and history to explore, in the Tower, Cathedral, the Baptistery, etc. Do not stick only to the Tower (and don't do the touristy photo op of "holding the tower up") I highly recommend going into the Cathedral and taking a walk around the inside. Beautiful artwork and architecture inside there. If you aren't able to climb the Campanile (leaning tower) - physically unable to, fear of heights, not enough time, etc - I still recommend this stop in Pisa. The Tower is beautiful from the outside too, if you aren't able to go inside/up, and the other buildings of the Piazza are worth the trip by themselves! One tip: you cannot see the Leaning Tower or any other of the Piazza dei Miracoli buildings by driving by or standing outside on the street. You have to go through a small marketplace of vendors to get to the archway entry. Once inside the entryway, that is where you will see the buildings you are looking for. Have fun!

Definitely a must do when in Italy. I got to see and experience this gem with my own eyes…read more Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, also called Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), is a famous UNESCO World Heritage site featuring four iconic white marble medieval structures: the Leaning Tower (Campanile), the stunning Cathedral, the massive Baptistery, and the solemn Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto), all set on a beautiful green lawn, showcasing breathtaking Pisan Romanesque architecture from the 11th-14th centuries.

The Piazza Del Duomo of Pisa known as "Piazza dei Miracoli" (Cathedral Square), is the area that…read morecontains various historical, preserved landmarks, including the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa". This area was declared a UNESCO Patrimony of the Humanity for the whole area. The outdoor square is accessible to the public, and you can take outside pictures for free (e.g. if you just want to take a picture with you "holding up" the Tower, that can be done with no ticket). If you want to head inside many of the buildings, you can buy tickets at the official site (https://www.opapisa.it/en). Because there was no special exhibit happening during January 2024 (which is definitely the low season for this part of the world), there were six permanent buildings that you can enter: 1. Tower 2. Baptistery 3. Camposanto 4. Cathedral 5. Opera Del Duomo Museum 6. Sinopie Museum. For 2024, prices are 27€ each for the entire experience. Separately, it is 20€ for just the tower, 10€ for everything else. Or a la carte, 7€ each (except the Cathedral which is free, but still requires a complementary ticket acquired at the ticket office the day of). We got the entire experience, and that definitely is the way to go if you intend to stay for a 1/2 day visit. The Tower opens at 9, and the others soon after. It was very sparse at that time, but definitely got busier by lunchtime. But even then, there were hardly any lines anywhere. And because it was a Sunday, Roman Catholic masses were occurring throughout the morning and early afternoon, which you can attend. Definitely would recommend spending 1/2 of a day here, and soaking up the history.

Open air mausoleum devoted to the dead, the Camposanto was founded in 1277 to consolidate all the…read moregraves scattered throughout the Square. You need a ticket to get in, and is 7€ individually, or 10€ as part of the museum package. It has many frescos and monument, and a separate chapel with many holy relics. It is open air, and has a nice grassy area in the center that you are allowed to walk across. We spent about 30 minutes here, and is an easy walk to the nearby Cathedral.

As far as every other building or church open to the public, Camposanto is the most deteriorated…read moreplace I have seen. Now, that is not to say that it isn't worthy of visiting or that it is somehow less amazing. In fact, there are some great sculptures here. As you come in, you see huge walls covered in frescos, which unfortunately have seen better days. They are gone in places, deteriorated in others. I even saw a couple of people restoring them. That would be a nerve wracking hob. Imagine messing up walls that have been here even before Christ! Also, the garden is very pretty. Overall the whole thing can be done in 10 minutes, that is if you just walk and peruse. If you take in the whole and look at the different statues and panels. You could be here a long time. Both experiences would be very enjoyable.