Pisa Mini Guide
Pisa, Italy is of course well famed for an architecture project which went wrong - the Leaning Tower of Pisa which is open several weeks of the year for viewing. Admission is limited to 40 people at a time and involves a hot climb up and down 300 steps lasting about 30 minutes. Once at the top you see lovely views of Pisa especially at night. The tower first started to lean when its architect Bonanno Pisano had only completed 3 tiers and the tower continued to incline by an average of 1mm every year. Over the years several solutions have been tried to stop the lean without success, however the slippage that first caused the tower to lean has finally been stopped.
With thousands of tourists every year making a beeline for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you shouldn't forget to book car hire
Pisa Airport as soon as you can. This is a very convenient place to pick up and drop off a vehicle. Pisa's Airport (Galileo Galilei) is 2 kilometres south of the town and is the main international airport for
Tuscany and hosts flights to most major european cities. If driving, Pisa is close to the A11 and A12 which connects the city. Large car parks can be found around the heart of the town.
The central square of Pisa is lovely and is set amongst beautiful gardens within which are romanesque buildings, i.e the cathedral, the baptistry and the Leaning Tower. The piazza fills up with people, tourists, local workers having lunch, students etc. Pisa is a university town and as such has a good range of restaurants etc., especially around Borgo Stretto where you see restaurants with lots of potted plants lined up outside and offering wonderful Tuscan menus.
There are several festivals and events held in Pisa including the Regata Storica di San Ranieri which is a rowing competition commemorating the city's patron saint. There is a range of hotels from budget through to the top end Hotel Relais dell'Orologio which is a dreamy five star hotel and a popular wedding venue.