Leaning Tower of Pisa
Member
Posted on: Tue, 14/09/2004 - 09:54
Hi,
OK, I’ve read a lot of posts of people saying that it’s not worth the trip to Pisa to see the leaning tower. We were thinking of going to see it next year while in Italy, just b/c it’s the famous "Leaning Tower of Pisa"!!! Is there anyone who was glad that they went to see it, or is it really not worth the extra expense?
Matt
I enjoyed seeing the tower. People are right though. There is NOTHING in Piza minus the tower. Its a good thing to see but I would not plan on spending a whole day in Piza. If you could find somewhere else you would like to go and have Piza be a stop on the way there that would probably be the best.
I’m glad I went. Sure it’s "touristy" but so what ?!
It’s a magic moment when you see it for the first time.
It’s so iconic that it gives to a buzz to finally see it with your own eyes.
I wouldn’t go out of may way to visit Pisa, but if you’re passing through and are spending time in Florence or Lucca, then just pop there, see the tower, then get back to your trip.
The expense is really very small. It’s only an hour train ride from Florence, and I’m truly glad I made the effort.
Florence Travelogue & Photos
It is definitly worth a day trip, but wouldn’t spend anymore than that. Pisa is a walled city, which took me by surprise and thats kinda cool. The tower itself looks like something out of a cartoon, check it out.
The Traveler’s Pub
Can be done as 1/2 day trip from Florence or on the way somewhere. Not much of an expense either. Pretty cool sight no matter how you slice it.
Ugh…just avoid that horrible horrible tacky tourist trap shopping area!! (its right next to the tower)I have never seen so much useless junk!
But, we did have the BEST gellato in Italy, in a shop right across from the tower, it was only 1 Euro a cup too!
But be prepared to wait awhile. I was there this June and it was a 2 hour wait, beacause only a certain number of people can go up at one time. But it is nice to say, I’ve seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
A very worth while half-day trip
I thoroughly enjoyed Pisa. It was a liesurely day since there weren’t a million sights to see.
The tower was of course iconic and it gives you that I can’t believe I’m really here feeling.
Then I sat down long enough to enjoy a nice meal and a bottle of wine.
It was a very pleasant day trip.
Also I stayed at the Hotel Milano near the train station. Early the next day I hoped on the train and headed to my next destination.
I was pretty neat seeing the leaning tower of Pisa, but don’t stay all day because there is nothing else to see. Don’t go up in it because a ticket is really expensive. Go for awhile, take a picture or two then leave because then it starts to get really boring and annoying with all the venders trying to sell you stuff.
Worth a half day max…
Casale-Bargain Villa Rental in Abruzzo
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HAHA...oh the Leaning Tower of Pisa…if you can walk fast and just want to see the Tower you can make the trip in about an hour and a half…no joke…look at it…laugh at it and get back on your train and then head to Cinque Terre…that is what we did and it was amazing! have fun!
I agree that you don’t need much time in Pisa. However, the leaning tower is the campanile for a Cathedral that has a separate Baptistry. Both are worth at least a peek in the door and a "listen" for the unusual accoustics in the Baptistry.
go to see it just to say you’ve seen it and get a photo taken with it, then move on.
We are arriving in Pisa by train at 11:00 AM and leaving at 1:30 PM. We have 2.5 hours at our disposal. Is that enough time to get to the Tower from the station, take a few photos, check out the Duomo and head back to the station in time to catch our train? We don’t want to spend any longer in Pisa if we don’t have to, but similarly we don’t want to have a mad rush or risk missing our connection. What do you guys think? Is it do-able?
I hate it when people say there’s nothing to see in Pisa.
There’s Pisa itself.
I didn’t say there was nothing to see in Pisa. I said I only have 2.5 hours at my disposal and I want to see the Tower and the Cathedral. If I can see more in that time, that’s fine. But unfortunately I can’t make time expand.
Yeah sure you can Esther. Most people stop in Pisa on their way to Cinque Terre.
I wasn’t referring to you by the way.
That’s great. Thanks.
That’s what I wanted to know, as I can’t quite picture the size of the town. I’m guessing we’ll have to take a bus from the train station, or is it walking distance to the Tower?
Yes it’s walkable, about 15-20 minutes from the train station.
My 2 cents:
Pisa is nice, but let’s just say that…if you have limited time in Tuscany and/or you chose to visit/prioritize maybe Siena or nearby Cinque Terre over Pisa, definitely don’t feel guilty about missing Pisa.
I just realized this thread was started 4 years ago.
I liked Pisa more than I’d expected to, and I remember passing a medical school as I walked from the station to the Leaning Tower, and seeing the students flooding out into a Spring day, and quickly filling tables at cafes… Sometimes, it’s difficult to communicate a rememered moment like that, but I remember that more vividly than I remember the tower!
I liked it a lot to see this tower in real after hearing al my life about it
I agree with Luv. Sure it’s worth seeing, but if your time is limited there are so many other places in the area to see.
I walked that walk last September, and at a brisk pace, I am going to say it is more like a solid 30 mins. I Loved seeing the tower. As soon as you come around that corner, you are like “this is something i have seen on TV all these years, and I am here”, one of those moments when you realize why you are backpacking or traveling or whatever. My cheesy pic didn’t turn otu that great, so I may have to head back one day and do it again!
OK. I’ve just returned from Italy and what I have to say is that the Tower was awesome and the city of Pisa quite pretty (from what we saw). I have to agree with smh1977, it was a fair distance from the train station to the Tower, but there was a direct bus, and also an open top tourist bus. We took the open top one, and got to see a bit of the city on the way to and from the Tower, which was nice, as we only had a couple of hours at our disposal. I think if I ever return to Tuscany I’ll spend at least one night in Pisa, so I can take my time sightseeing.
We didn’t go to Siena, but we did go to Cinque Terre, whice were fab, just like I expected.
Thanks to everyone for replying! I look forward to my next trip now.
I’m glad I went. Sure it’s "touristy" but so what ?!
It’s a magic moment when you see it for the first time.
It’s so iconic that it gives to a buzz to finally see it with your own eyes.
I wouldn’t go out of may way to visit Pisa, but if you’re passing through and are spending time in Florence or Lucca, then just pop there, see the tower, then get back to your trip.
The expense is really very small. It’s only an hour train ride from Florence, and I’m truly glad I made the effort.
Florence Travelogue & Photos
Only an hour train ride from Florence? Sounds good to me then if I am spending 3 nights in Florence, 1/2 a day to Pisa to see the tower is good then. If I didn’t know it was close to Florence, I never would have planned to go (out of my way) but it isn’t so thanks!