I read about this place in storybooks when I was a young child. It was almost like a fantasy, but it exists indeed. We had a tour guide who provided an in-depth story about this architectural nightmare, and she included more recent efforts to straighten this tower. No! Please, not! -- Seeing this in-person definitely helped me with a bucket list item. read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

See all

One of the few must checkout spots in Pisa. We came from Florence via one hour rail and walked to this spot. Pretty crowded but if you walk around you can find a few spots that you could grab pictures especially on the backside of the leaning tower. You could also pay and take a walk up the tower but we didn't do that since it didn't seem worth. read more

See all

Awful service, mediocre food, broken ice machine warm water. This is the tourist trap. One of The worst please we are in Italy in3 weeks I would avoid read more

This is probably a just-me thing, but the tower is underwhelming - unless the arm-prop picture is a must. Cliche is less my thing than not. With that in mind, while any ancient site in Italy is bound to impress this falls in to the category of an once-only, if ever, visit; should time be a consideration I'd extend an afternoon elsewhere versus make it a day trip destination. read more

Yes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of those must see places while visiting Tuscany. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most recognizable buildings in Italy and the world. The city of Pisa itself is not very exciting nor scenic but the old city gate that you see as you walk to see the tower is interesting, as are the cathedral (duomo) and baptistery. The carvings on the side of the buildings are well worth a look and attention. I recommend coming during the off-season. Although it was November, there were a fair number of people trying to get that oh so clever pic with themselves and the tower. Because there is restricted car traffic near the tower, it was also a great place to walk with my dogs who were with us on our trip. When seeing Pisa, I recommend combining it with a trip to nearby Lucca (one of my two favorite places that I visited in Tuscany, the other being San Gimignano), which is well worth seeing for a whole afternoon. read more

See all

As amazing as I had read and seen online....NOPE. EVEN BETTER! Truly breathtaking. The lean is even more than o had realized. The stairs leading up are so worn from all the visitors throughout time. Views at the top and bell area are the best I've seen. If you go you MUST climb the tower. Buy an all inclusive ticket that gives you access to all the buildings and sites on the property. Great value. No backpacks in the tower...they have a cloakroom. read more

See all

The Leaning Tower made for a fun day trip from our cruise when we were in port. Don't skip it, you can combine Florence and Pisa. There is a nice walk through the shopping distract from the train station, or in our case, the bus stop. You can shop, eat, and use the bathrooms on your walk toward the tower. When you do find your way to the Tower, all the shops fade away to an enormous open field. Our guide said poets have talked about how your first gaze behind the walls is akin to seeing a miracle. Not sure about that, but I was blown away, there is not a lot of sprawling areas in Italy with dwellings, but this is one. It was magical. Be prepared for heat, especially because there is no shade to retreat under. Despite the heat and sun, it was nice to just slowly move about the area taking in the ancient history. Some of which is quite funny in how some of these buildings came about. The construction of the Tower of Pisa started in 1173 and took 200 years to complete. The architect Bonanno Pisano had an active role in its original design, but it wasn't intended to lean! That's right. One of the world's most famous leaning towers was actually due to poor planning, in fact, it took the combined efforts of 3 different architects to complete the tower. read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was a reason why we came to Pisa the night before, and became our focal point for our visit. You must have a ticket to enter and climb the tower, and during the busy summer months, you must reserve ahead. Because it was January, I was able to get two tickets the night before (27€ each), and decided on a time right when it opens (9 AM). There are 5 other sites that you can enter with the ticket, with the Tower being the only one with an assigned time. It was about 1.5 km from our hotel (very close to the train station), and took about 35 minutes at a leisurely pace, crossing a bridge over the Arno river. The square was relatively empty when we got there, with nothing set-up. This is the time to take outdoor, staged shots with the Tower as the background (less people to get in your sightlines). The first thing I noticed was "Man, that is crooked". We stayed in the area, and at about 8:55, folks came in to set-up the lines. One noticed my backpack and told me I needed to put it away before entering. This is done by walking towards the North part of the Square where the tickets are sold. Before you get there, there is a room full of lockers. You scan your ticket, and it automatically assigns and opens it for your. You put your stuff in, and when closed, it gives you a retrieval ticket. This is so efficient. So by the time we got back, the line was still only 20 deep, and we were part of the first group to allow to climb the tower when they opened the gate at exactly 9 am. Wikipedia says the tower has 296 or 294 steps. We climbed 253 of them (not counting the few steps to get inside the main floor). The winding staircase is narrow (two people can pass if sideways), and there is no direct view to the outside except for landing areas where you can rest (there are bigger windows to stare out of those). It was 58 steps to first set of doors (all the doors are blocked for safety but you can see out them) then 31, 30, 30, 32, 36 to the main landing area before climbing 36 more very narrow steps to the floor that houses the bells. From there you can see the outside, with out-of-place metal fencing separating you from a fall. The barrier is not very permanent, and I wonder what was there before to prevent people from having some bad accidents. There is a sitting area in the center. It is surrounded by different sized bells, and they ring regularly (with a little bit of a warning). I'm assuming because each tour is supposed to be 30 minutes, they probably ring every 30. They are very loud up there, so be prepared. Once up there, it is just admiring the view and photographing your memories. I would expect during high season, somebody would tell you to leave, but nobody seemed to do that. What's funny is that 30 minutes seemed like the right amount of time for the both of us and we headed down the same way. We only passed a few couples on the way down. The process is set-up to handle big crowds and reserving ahead is mandatory during the busy months. In this way, they control the crowds...it would be a recipe for disaster if they didn't control the crowds. The recommendation is to get your ticket time first for the tower, and then plan the rest of your visit around that. We ended up spending about 5 hours total in the Square, and it was well worth the time (and 27€). read more

See all

The Tower of Pisa is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square. It's amazing to see this solid structure tilted as it is now and has withstood four earthquakes. They say the soil has been the cause of the tilting and the reason for its survival through the past earthquakes. The tower itself is now fenced off so you can no longer walk up to it, regardless of the distance it is still an amazing site and a perfect backdrop for selfies. The surrounding area is full of very good restaurants and cafes, it is a wonderful area to spend some time, sit back, relax and try not to get grazed by a selfie stick. Cheers! read more

See all

While visiting Florence, Italy, My wife and I booked a day trip to The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Getting to Pisa from Florence: Our trip included round trip transportation to and from the venue in a coach bus. It takes a little over an hour and the scenery of beautiful Tuscany is wonderful. Once we arrived in Pisa, our tour guide walked us through town and we made our way to the tower. During our bus ride, our guide shared about Tuscan culture and the history of Pisa. Once we made it to the tower, We were given a set time to meet back up, and allowed to make our way up into the tower on our own. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is literally what the name depicts. It's a structure that was built in the 12th century that started leaning due to being built on an inadequate foundation. Stabilization efforts to partially correct the tilt were implemented in the 20th and 21st centuries. The stairs to the top are doable, but you can definitely tell that the building was built many many years ago. Once you reach the top, there is an outside viewing area and it's a pretty cool view of the surrounding area. Of course, while you are standing in front of the tower, it's a must to have your picture taken where your hands "appear" to be holding up the tower. It's definitely worth the trip to Pisa and a great architectural wonder of the world. read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - Beautiful Spring day in Pisa - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

See all

The leaning tower, which is the bell tower of the cathedral or the Tower of Pisa. The height of the tower is 183.27 feet from the ground on the low side and 185.93 feet on the high side. The tower is sitting on sand. An American engineering team stabilized the tower so it won't fall down by late 20th - 21st centuries. The width of the walls at the base is 8 ft 0.06 in. Its weight is estimated at 16,000 short tons. Some of the bricks from the Roman Temple was recycled, so words & letters don't make sense now. Construction of the tower occurred in three stages across 199 years. There are gargoyles in some of the columns of the tower. The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase. Prior to restoration work performed between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but the tower now leans at about 3.99 degrees. Two 70-79 year olds from our tour were able to climb up & down the spiral stair steps, I salute them for doing that, because I'm too chicken to do that, not only because I've got vertigo, but I hate steps climbing up or DOWN. Hubby and I try to re-create the same spot, and location as our honeymoon photo, when we first visited Italy, the only thing was now there are 20x more tourists! Back then, you can't even go up the tower, closed for repairs. I'm older now, so history got more exciting and I understand more now than when I was a newlywed. I will come back here again, another 40 years from now! read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

This was as exciting as I was expecting. Yes, touristy and crowded but so very cool. We didn't go inside but sat on the steps right across and my wife and I drew the tower. And older Italian man with maybe two teeth approved of the drawings. It the pulled a T. Colin Campbell book on low carb diets translated into Italian out of his bag and waved it us. In the land of pizza and pasta, are you kidding me? Toilet costs .80 euro. read more

See all

We took a 2 week tour of Italy and Greece and saw so many incredible sites... the Colosseum, the Parthenon, the canals of Venice... but nothing gave us that "Wow!" moment like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We were traveling with a tour group of 37 people and many of us had the same reaction. As we entered through the gate, turned the corner and saw the Leaning Tower, several of us audibly gasped. We all agreed that our reaction was completely unexpected. It's hard to put into words how awe-inspiring the Leaning Tower is. The area around the Tower is pretty amazing, too. There are several other old buildings, as well as a beautiful area with great shops and restaurants. Pisa wasn't exactly on my bucket list, but it ended up being one of my favorite places on the tour. read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - The Leaning Tower - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

Very disappointed because all the good photos I've seen in the past were taken on the grass and now that whole area is fenced off and your not allowed on the grass I front of it to get photos! So needless to say they didn't turn out as great. However it's a great one time sight to see for a photo. Not much else here in the area because touristy souvenirs and restaurants. read more

When in Italy make sure to get to Pisa. Once in a lifetime experience making the trek to the top of The Leaning Tower. Slippery marble stairs and a winding narrow circle to the top. Once you think You made it, there is another narrow circle step way. It was well worth the short breaths to make it to the top. The views are spectacular. $18.00 Euros. They have reserved times, so get there early. read more

See all

Of course if you are in Pisa you must see il torre! People gripe about it being "touristy", but so what if it is? It is still a magnificent splendor of architecture to behold and photographs do not do the tower nor the basilica or other buildings within the walled fort complex justice! I definitely recommend going later in the day as the tour group hoards will be gone. The hours to climb the tower are 10am-6pm. I was told that the last tickets are given at 5:45pm. I was there at 5:40pm and was told "no more tickets", but I think like with a lot of places in Italy, hours are merely guidelines and they just kind of do whatever they feel like. The grounds are gorgeous and just walking around the tower itself was great! Also exploring some of the nooks and crannies w/in the complex was awesome as well, especially if you pay attention to all the intricate architectural nuances that are put into the facades of the buildings. I was only in Pisa all of 4hrs and specifically pitstopped here to see the Leaning Tower as it had been a dream since I was a kid in elementary school. I highly recommend walking to some of the nearby piazzas and across the many bridges. I caught one of the most spectacular sunsets as I was walking across a bridge towards the train station! Tip: There are signs that there is free "WiPi" (wifi) throughout Pisa, but it is like many of the wifi hotspots throughout Italy, where you need to register and obtain a code through txt msg in order to log-on, which kind of defeats the purpose, imho. read more

Oh yes, the touristy thing to do when coming to Pisa. Even from not looking at this tower from an engineering standpoint, it's still amazing how something this heavy won't fall down. Fortunately, our tour guide was smart to take us here early in the morning before Florence, as a whole wave of Japanese & Korean tour groups would arrive by lunch time--he was totally right. Otherwise, I don't think it's worth even 30-min. to line up to climb this thing. No backpacks allowed by the way if you're planning to walk it up. Worth getting a souvenir though. read more

See all

The Leaning Tower made a fun day trip from Lucca (short train ride and could also be done from Florence). We had skipped it on our first trip through Florence because it looked to be overrated, but in hindsight it really made for a great day trip. There is a nice walk through the shopping distract from the train station. You can shop, eat, and use the bathrooms on your walk towards the tower. Like most things in Italy it is a bit of maze, but you can see the tower so you will eventually find your way there regardless of your route. Bring a day pack with water, a hat, and rooms for accumulated nicknacks. When you do find your way to the Tower all the shops fade away to an enormous open field akin to the great lawn in Manhattan. What happens there I will leave to your imagination, but it is awe inspiring. Be prepared for heat, since there is no shade to rest under. After spending time in the cities of Italy it was very refreshing to be in an large open space of green lawns and marble stone. Despite the heat and sun, it was nice to just slowly move about the area taking in the ancient history. Some of which is quite funny in how some of these buildings came about. Tip - when trying to take a photo of someone pushing or holding the tower up, the person taking the photo has to be laying on the ground. On your way out you will be passing by the storefronts again to cool off and do a little last minute shopping. read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - The Tower! - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

See all

It was easy to get to by train from Florence. A good way to spend half a day here. There's really no need to joi. The tour bec it's accessible by train and the fare is not expensive read more

Just taking a picture of myself holding this magnificent piece of history up is worth everything. Loved all of Pisa! read more

This was amazing to see differently a one of a kind in history. The whole town and area are truly incredible. read more

Leaning Tower di Cioffi Alfonso & C - Italian Near Me - Pisa, PI

I have to preface this by saying that Italy is my favourite country, so understand that while you read this review! Pisa itself is not the greatest town. Sure, there are probably gems if you go exploring but you won't want to be here long enough to do that. When you get off the bus at the station you will be hounded by foreigners asking you to buy their belongings. Want to use the public bathroom at the bus station? Well you're going to have to pay them a few euros. If you're near the tower, there will be lots of travelers (obvious) and again people following you to buy their products. To see the Leaning Tower in person is not worth it. It looks exactly the same like it does in photos. Go to Google and it'll have the same effect like it does being there in person. You don't want to sit in front of it and mull over its beauty. However, if for some reason just end up in Pisa, the Cathedral of Saint Ranieri is absolutely gorgeous and I would suggest taking a walk in there! I guess people come here to take a photo of them holding up the building, but frankly it's a waste of time when there are so many other breathtaking buildings in Italy, where you can ogle them in peace. I suppose I like finding my own treasures--off the familiar path. read more

You've seen the photos so you're going to have a fair idea of what it is like in person, and it really is just as you'd imagine... but better. You want to go on a nice day to get the best shots. The tower really does lean quite a lot, it's very odd. The surrounding buildings are equally as impressive and are actually very beautiful in architecture. There are plenty of spots to get good shots of you and the tower but it is difficult to get a good shot without the people in the background! Make sure you explore the other buildings too, there's a lot to see and a lot of history in the area! read more

I mean, it's pretty much just some tower that is slightly tilted. I expected it to be more leaning. There is not much to do there other than take some pics and then leave. I was wishing it would be a little more interesting but it's alright. read more