In our Italian travels, the train took us right through Pisa. We could not resist planning a six hour stop. Just like our quick journey into New York at the start of our trip, we checked our suitcases at the train station and headed into the city.
Our first stop was reservations to climb the leaning tower. The wait was about 2 hours. We decided to first visit the Duomo and Baptistry.
Pisa is known for its Pisan Romanesque architecture. Giovanni Pisano was the architect who designed and built the Field of Miracles buildings using a bright white marble. All of the buildings look light and elegant. Our favorite part of the Baptistry was the fact that it was built as a musical instrument. Every half an hour all of the doors close. A singer walks to the center and creates a beautiful melody and harmony with layers of sound. Every noise echoes for at least 10 seconds.
After a pizza lunch, we were ready to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The building was began in 1173 and finished in 1372. Every time construction started and stopped, the tower continued to lean. It now has about a 15-foot lean, which is about a five degree angle. Climbing the tower, gravity pulls you in each direction. It is truly a unique experience. After our short stop, we continued our train trip to Rome.
