Part 5 of our 2nd Italian Adventure
This is the last part in our second Italian Adventure series and I want to tell you about our day trip to Pisa.
This is a town on many a travellers to-do list and its somewhere I think you have to see at least once in your life.
How did we get there?
Having our hotel right next to the train station meant we had, on the door step, access to a wide area of Italy’s Ligurian coast and into Tuscany.
Pisa was only approx 40 mins away and with multiple trains an hour, for only approx €8 each way it was well worth the trip. So off we went.
All about the sandwich.
Before I get into the “what not to miss about Pisa” I want to tell you that you must, and yes I mean MUST visit the fruit and food market (Mercato Delle Vattovaglie).
The market is open from Monday to Friday in Piazza delle Vettovaglie.
Its where most of the locals do their shopping but the reason I want you to visit is that, in the market, there’s a man who sells porchetta sandwiches and I will be honest with you this is the best sandwich you’ll get anywhere in Italy.
Go to the market, buy a sandwich and I promise you, you’ll thank me later.
The traditional sights of Pisa not to miss
Pisa was very much picture postcard with all the sites located in one area and looking exactly like you’ve seen on televisions, on postcards or in books.
It was absolutely swarming with people and I’ve never seen so many selfie sticks in my life and people trying to take the quirky picture of holding up the tower.
It was fun to watch.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Originally built as a freestanding tower bell for the nearby Cathedral 850 years ago, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is now an attraction on own. You can also visit the inside of the tower and go all the way to the top to enjoy the view over Pisa.
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
This cathedral is also known as the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta, the Cathedral was designed with strong Byzantine influences and boasts fascinating Pisan Romanesque architecture.
The Baptistery
This is the third Pisa attraction in the “Piazza dei Miracoli” trio – with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Leaning Tower of Pisa being the other two.
The impressive size of the Baptistery stamps its dominance in the square, boasting a touch of Oriental influence and a slight tilt to match the adjacent tower.
This was by far my favorite attraction when we visited.
Take a walk along the river
After visiting all the main monuments you can make your way to River Arno for a beautiful and tranquil experience.
The river Arno, which also flows through the nearby city of Florence, cuts through Pisa and offers an incredibly stunning view.
