A Historical Marvel
If you’re looking for a unique and memorable experience, don’t miss the chance to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This stunning tower is located in the charming city of Pisa, Italy, and is one of the most famous monuments in the world. What makes it so special is its remarkable tilt, caused by a faulty foundation that started to sink during its construction in the 12th century. The tower leans at an angle of about four degrees, which means that the top of the tower is over four meters away from where it should be. It’s a masterpiece of medieval architecture and engineering, and offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding area from its top. You can also admire the beauty of the tower from the ground, along with other magnificent buildings in the Piazza dei Miracoli, such as the cathedral, baptistery, and cemetery. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a must-see attraction for anyone who loves history, art, and adventure.
A Brief History
The construction of the tower began in 1173 as the third and final structure of the city’s cathedral complex. It was designed to stand 185 feet (56 meters) high and was constructed of white marble. Three of its eight stories had been completed when the uneven settling of the building’s foundations in the soft ground became noticeable.
At that time, war broke out between the Italian city-states, and construction was halted for almost a century. This pause allowed the tower’s construction to settle and likely prevent its early collapse.
When construction resumed, the engineer in charge, Giovanni di Simone, cought to compensate for the lean by making the new stories slightly taller on the short side. However, the extra masonry caused the structure to sink still further. The project was plagued with interruptions, as engineers sought solutions to the leaning problem, but the tower was ultimately topped out in the 14th century.
The Steps of the Tower
The tower has twin spiral staircases lined its interior, with 294 steps leading from the groun to the bell chamber. One staircase incorporates two additional steps to compensate for the tower’s lean. However, there are some sources that state there are 294 steps on the north side and 296 steps on the south side in the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1987, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the entire Piazza del Duomo (formally known ‘Cathedral Square’). This recognition was due to the tower’s unique architectual design and its influence on monument art in Italy from the 11th to the 14th century.
If you’re staying in Florence or Cinque Terre, you can’t miss the chance to visit the Square of Miracles in Pisa and see the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa! This half-day trip is a perfect way to experience the beauty of Tuscany and marvel at the wonders of medieval architecture.
To get to Pisa, catch an early train to avoid the crowds. Remember to book a return trip and pay attenton to the annoucements and the departure timetable when leaving Pisa San Rossore. Sometimes the train will arrive/depart at a different platform, but they announce it ahead of time. The Trenitalia app updates as well, but there might be a slight delay.
We also used Trenitalia to purchase our train tickets. You can purchase tickets on their app as well.
On our journey to Pisa, we opted for a regional train that did not allow us to select our seats in advance. But, we were not too worried about it since there were not many passengers at that time. This gave us ample time to stroll around the square, grab some breakfast from a nearby cafe, and take some amazing unobstructed photos with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the background.
This route is the shorter and easier route. Most people will get off at Pisa Centrale. Stay on the train and get off at Pisa S. Rossore. It took less than 10 minutes to walk to the Piazza del Miracoli (Square of Miracles).
This route is from Pisa Centrale. The estimated walk time for this route is approximately 25 – 27 minutes.
Visit: The cafe Po’Sto’ which is right on the corner. This is where we had breakfast. Grab something to eat and an espresso and walk into the piazza and enjoy your food in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Everything in the Square of Miracles opens at 0900. But you can walk in anytime. So take pictures while you wait for opening time.
Pre-Book your Tower of Pisa tickets as lines can get pretty long. This allows you to schedule a designated time and avoid waiting in line. If you do not have pre-purchased tickets, you have the risk of not being able to climb the tower on the day of your visit. The ticket is valid on the day and at the time specified. Please check the time of your visit. If you are late, you will not be allowed in and you will not be refunded. Children under 8 years old are not allowed to climb the tower. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and ID may be requested to certify the age. Also, keep in mind that there is absolutely NO BAGS allowed up the tower. There is a locker room where you can store your bags. There is an attendant there who will securely lock your bags and give you the RFID card to your locker. Visitors are subject to screening by a hand-held metal detector at the entrance to the Tower. A few words of advice before you buy your ticket.
Buy your tickets here. You can choose single visits or the combination visits which allows you to visit all the open monuments and mueseums in the sqaure during the opening time. Book the Tower for sure! Climbing the tower is not difficult but some people report feeling dizzy or getting vertigo from climbing the tight, spiral staircase at an incline. If you plan to climb the tower, it takes about 30 minutes to get to the top. Warning: The Tower climb is not recommended for people with cardiovascular and muscular disorders. The floor is uneven and slippery.
There’s also shops and vendors around the Square that you can check out after.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Pisa is very crowded and there are a lot of pickpockets. The employee at the cafe advised us to eat with our bags in front of us. Ignore people that approach you with maps and if people ask you to take pictures of them, watch your bag or have your travel companion to hold your belongings. This is a ploy to distract you to focus on taking the picture rather than on our belongings.
