After spending 2.5 days and 3 nights in Rome, we headed to Florence taking fast train from Roma Termini. Dropped of our luggage at AirBnB and took a local train to Pisa.
Train to Florence from Roma Termini to Florence.
The Tower! and Of course fellow tourists.
View from the bottom.
Close up of the tower!
Most people visit the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) for one specific reason: to take a photo “holding up” a sinking tower. But once you step onto that lush green lawn, you realize the Leaning Tower is actually just the opening act for one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles in the world.
Well I couldn’t resist that either, when you see hundreds of tourists using their creativity to create unique pictures with the tower, I got into the act as well.
The Leaning Tower (Torre di Pisa)
It’s the world’s most famous architectural “oops.” Construction began in 1173, and thanks to a shallow foundation set in soft, unstable subsoil, the tower began to tilt before the third story was even finished.
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The Survival: Despite its 4-degree lean, the tower has survived at least four strong earthquakes. Paradoxically, the same soft soil that causes the lean helps dampen the vibrations from tremors.
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The Climb: If you have the legs for it, climbing the 251 spiral steps is a surreal experience—you can actually feel your body weight shifting as you move toward and away from the tilt.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (The Duomo)
While the tower gets the Instagram fame, the Pisa Cathedral is the true heart of the square. This masterpiece of Pisan Romanesque architecture was built using the spoils of a naval victory in 1063.
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The Facade: Look closely at the exterior; it’s a stunning mix of white and grey marble with intricate tiers of open arches.
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Galileo’s Inspiration: Legend has it that Galileo Galilei formulated his theory on the movement of a pendulum while watching the bronze incense lamp (the “Lamp of Galileo”) swing from the cathedral ceiling.
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The Interior: Don’t skip the inside! The gold-leaf ceiling and the massive mosaic in the apse (depicting Christ Enthroned) are breathtaking examples of medieval artistry.
Pisa Cathedral.
Few more shots of the Tower!
Here are my other posts related to my Italy trip
