A Day at the Leaning Tower of Pisa - What to visit, costs, tickets
Pisa is one of the most touristic cities in Italy, a city not to be missed for those who choose to visit this wonderful country, especially because of one of the most emblematic towers in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In this article I will present you the main points of attraction in Pisa, besides the famous Tower, and what else you can do here for a whole day. You will also find the price list for the entrance tickets and the place where you can buy them.
Our visit to Pisa was included in the vacation from Florence, about which I invite you to read here: 3 Days In Italy: Florence, Pisa, Bologna – Itinerary, Places To Visit.
Pisa is the seat of the province of Pisa in the Tuscany region, a city of approximately 90,000 inhabitants, located at the mouth of the Arno River in the Mediterranean Sea.
Although it is not a large city, Pisa is recognized worldwide due to one of the most impressive monuments in the world, namely the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In fact, there are other interesting tourist sights in Pisa, such as Piazza del Miracoli, which houses the Cathedral of Pisa, the Battistero di San Giovanni and the Camposanto.
Many restaurants, terraces and shops have appeared in the area of this market, and all of these give Pisa the air of a very touristic and energetic city, which is buzzing with visitors every day.
What to visit one day in Pisa
1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is the most famous leaning tower in the world and named one of the 7 Wonders of the Medieval World.
The tower is part of the religious complex in Piazza del Duomo and functions as a bell tower.
The construction of the tower began in 1173, but shortly after the start of construction, after the first three floors were raised, the tower began to lean due to the clay and sandy soil. For a century the construction was stopped, and then the next four floors were built obliquely, to compensate for the already inclined part.
Today, the tower has an inclination angle of approximately 5 degrees, and a height of 58 meters (273 steps). Following recent consolidation works, the tower is currently considered stable and safe for at least another 2-300 years.
The tower can be visited daily by tourists, and the sensation of climbing an inclined tower is unique. You feel that angle of inclination from the moment you step into the tower, and up on the top floor, the strange feeling is even stronger.
Entrance tickets are at a fixed time, you have to be present at the entrance of the tower a few minutes earlier. If you have a bag, you must leave it first in a special storage space, in the opposite building.
If you want to visit the tower, I recommend that you buy your entrance ticket in advance, online. Tickets are limited and highly sought after. Just be careful that the climbing is not the easiest and is not recommended for those with mobility problems or claustrophobia.
Children under 8 are not allowed to climb the tower, and young people under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
2. Piazza del Duomo - Piazza del Miracoli
The square around the tower and the cathedral is a special place, with an extremely good energy. This is the place where a lot of tourists try to catch the best shots with the leaning tower, in more and more strange positions. But besides the large flow of visitors, the square, with all its historic buildings and green gardens, is truly wonderful.
Entrance to Piazza del Miracoli is free.
3. Pisa Cathedral
The Cathedral of Pisa was built in the 11th century and is an example of Italian Romanesque architecture. With a white marble facade and relief ornaments, and an equally impressive interior, the cathedral is worth a visit if you come to Pisa, especially since the entrance is free.
You only need to know that the entrance to the cathedral is conditioned by a fixed entrance time, in case you do not already have an entrance ticket to any other monument in the complex.
- If you already have a ticket to the tower or other monuments in the square, you can enter the cathedral at any time, with the already purchased ticket.
- Otherwise, you have to get yourself an entrance ticket to the cathedral. Even if it is free, this ticket will be for a fixed time, and places are limited.
4. Battistero di San Giovani
The Baptistery of Pisa was built in the Roman style, in the 12th century. The reason for the construction of this Baptistery was to bring a building adjacent to the great cathedral, which would be in harmony with the already existing majestic building.
5. Camposanto
Camposanto is the last monument in Piazza del Duomo, and was founded in 1277 to house the tombs that until then were scattered around the Cathedral.
In addition to these monuments, in this complex there are also two museums where the history of this place is described: Opera del Duomo Museum, Sinopie Museum.
How much are the entrance tickets to Pisa
I recommend you to buy the entrance tickets to Pisa from the official website https://www.opapisa.it/en/tickets/prices/. Here you can find combinations of tickets or single entry tickets:
| Type of Ticket | Price (Euro) |
|---|---|
| Complete visit (tower + all the monuments in the square) | 27 |
| Tower | 20 |
| Baptistery | 7 |
| Camposanto | 7 |
| Museums (Opera del Duomo Museum / Sinopie Museum) | 7 |
How do you get to Pisa
I recommend that you combine your visit to Pisa with a vacation of several days, in which you can also visit other beautiful locations in the area, such as Florence sau Cinque Terre.
For example, there are very frequent trains from Florence to Pisa, a ticket costs only 9 euros and the travel time is 50 minutes - an hour.
Where to eat in Pisa
Near the square with the Tower and the Cathedral of Pisa you will find several places where you can have a meal. The prices are decent, and the dishes are generally those of Italian gastronomy (pasta, pizza).
We chose this location for lunch, where we ate an excellent pizza: La lanterna Ristorante Pizzeria.
Related articles
