This church is HUGE!…read more It is beautiful...beyond beautiful inside. The ornate details and architecture is outstanding. I sat in here for a while pondering life...

Visited the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta while taking a half day trip in Pisa. Located in…read morePiazza dei Miracoli near the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Built in the late 12th century representing Pisan Romanesque architecture. Entry is free but timed. Recommend booking online if you can. Visit during mornings or near closing to minimize crowds. Photography allowed but avoid flash. interior of the cathedral is stunning with countless pieces of art inside. Stepping inside brings you into a huge open space with vaulted ceilings supported by large columns. You'll find marble everywhere. Keep an eye out for Christ in Majesty and Giovanni Pisano's pulpit. Plan for about 30-60 min.

The Baptistery of San Giovanni was founded on 1152, and was used to administer the Sacrament of…read moreBaptism. It was meant to be mirror the majesty of the adjacent Cathedral and is indeed the largest one in Italy (couldn't find any mention what is the biggest in the world). A ticket is required to enter. (7€ individually, or 10€ if part of a pack to see the other 4 museums on the campus) It is one giant dome, with a visitor accessible second level overlooking the first floor. The giant baptismal fountain isn't really admirable from ground level, but from the upper level, it is something. It is 69 steps going down (forgot to count going up...probably similar)..no elevator. This is the one building where you can pay extra (2€) to listen to an audio guide. While we were up there, a guide began to sing a chant to publicize and demonstrate the amazing acoustics of the dome. I've read that the building can be considered one giant musical instrument.

Just can't say enough great things about this baptistery. Lovely and yet simple. Architecture is…read moreamazing and the frescoes on the walls are a thing of joy. A beautiful example of Italian art and architecture.

Easy day trip; we did it from Rome and it was totally manageable. Quick, in and out, but still…read morefeels like you saw something iconic. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of those things you've seen photos of a million times, so you think you know what to expect but in person it's a bit weirder. The tilt kind of throws you off for a second. The detail on it is what got me more than anything -- was the pole in the middle of the inside for stability. It's not just a place to take a photo and leave but actually walk around the square and grounds and take it all in. Climbing it is a bit tight and a little uneven, but nothing crazy. You do feel the lean as you go and the view is solid is full of open space. A lot of people do the cliché photos, including myself, but it's part of the fun of it all. Overall, it was definitely worth it but not somewhere you need to spend the night, as it over-delivers within the confines of a day trip.

Super excited to be able to come and see this up close and with my own eyes!!…read more I got to hear the bell ring and walk around the piazza. I had a gelato and just admired this beauty in person

Open air mausoleum devoted to the dead, the Camposanto was founded in 1277 to consolidate all the…read moregraves scattered throughout the Square. You need a ticket to get in, and is 7€ individually, or 10€ as part of the museum package. It has many frescos and monument, and a separate chapel with many holy relics. It is open air, and has a nice grassy area in the center that you are allowed to walk across. We spent about 30 minutes here, and is an easy walk to the nearby Cathedral.

As far as every other building or church open to the public, Camposanto is the most deteriorated…read moreplace I have seen. Now, that is not to say that it isn't worthy of visiting or that it is somehow less amazing. In fact, there are some great sculptures here. As you come in, you see huge walls covered in frescos, which unfortunately have seen better days. They are gone in places, deteriorated in others. I even saw a couple of people restoring them. That would be a nerve wracking hob. Imagine messing up walls that have been here even before Christ! Also, the garden is very pretty. Overall the whole thing can be done in 10 minutes, that is if you just walk and peruse. If you take in the whole and look at the different statues and panels. You could be here a long time. Both experiences would be very enjoyable.