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.

Who knows if anyone will ever see this but I was visiting from the USA and had to ship something…read morefrom Italy. I think the clerk's name was Sandra M (? She resembled the wife of the older brother in Everybody Loves Raymond) and she was extremely helpful despite having somewhat limited English (far better than my Italian!). I always told myself I would give her a about out so here it is. People everywhere always complain about their post offices but this was one lady who was working hard and came through for me. Thanks again Sandra M!

This historical landmark is incredible to behold. It is dedicated to St. Michael and is known for…read morehousing the famous Magrini Altarpiece by Lippi. The architecture is Romanesque, with an impressive level of fine detail both inside and out. The interior is more solemn compared to other churches I've visited, but just as intriguing, especially in the ornate carvings that reward a closer look.

Great cocktails, beer and the first place that adds onto to a Hugo. Bar and restaurant has a…read morefantastic view of the Chiesa di San Michele in Foro cathedral and plaza.

Visiting this bridge was part of a longer drive we took through the Apuan Alps in Tuscany. When…read moreyou come upon it is quite eye-catching, even astonishing because of it's interesting slope, graceful curves and beautiful construction. This "Bridge of Maddalena"...named after Mary Magdalene of Biblical fame, is also known as Ponte del Diavolo or "The Devil's Bridge". It crosses the Serchio River near the town of Borgo a Mozzano in the province of Lucca. The bridge was built in the 12th century and it may have been commissioned by the Countess Matilda of Tuscany although this is uncertain. Historically, the bridge became an important method of crossing the river on the Via Francigena which was an early medieval road to Rome for people coming from France usually as a pilgrimage route. We thought the bridge was stunning to behold and found what history there is of it to be fascinating. As a popular legend of the bridge goes there were problems with its construction. It is said that the master builder (il capomastro) was frustrated by innumerable (12th century type) construction delays and therefore he made a pact with the devil. As the story goes, the devil told the capomastro that he would build the bridge for him over night but in return the devil wanted the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. The builder agreed to these terms but on the eve of the bridge's opening, he was filled with guilt and went to see his priest. The priest thought of a way to thwart the devil and so a dog was sent to cross the bridge early on "opening day". The devil was so angry at being tricked it is said that he threw himself and this poor dog into the Serchio river. People today say that at night you can on occasion still hear the howling of the poor dog. Whatever you want to call this bridge...Maddalena or Diavolo, it is well worth the drive to see it. Along the way you will see mountains and lush, verdant countryside so it is a drive very much worth taking. The entire area feels ancient and magical as does so much of Italy to me especially when you allow yourself to get off the beaten track.

You can climb up the tower for a fee You will get a beautiful bird's eye view of the city below…read more Lots of stairs but worth it. There's some congestion getting up to the roof but that's a must. It's like a small roof garden with a handful of trees.

By the end of - actually before the end of - three weeks in Italy I'd had enough of climbing to the…read moretops of towers. So much so that I took one look at Pisa's Leaning Tower and shrugged: No need to go up there. In Lucca though, there's but one tower and if you've never seen trees growing atop something that sits up hundreds of stairs here lies that opportunity. Torre Guinigi is 230 mostly wide stairs topped by a lookout area featuring a number of mature trees. During my visit, rains made the lookout area quite puddle-filled and getting around to the each side of the lookout area was made difficult as one isn't supposed to actually get up into the dirt area of the trees. It required some gymnastics but I was able to make my way around the space to view Lucca from above in all directions. Come in dry weather and you should have no such difficulties. For about 6 euro (less for students) you'll see Lucca from above and see the trees which grow way up there. This isn't the tallest lookout tower from which I observed Italy, nor is it the best (that'd be Florence's Duomo and, in second place, the nearby Bell Tower) but it's a fun and sweet little part of your day and something worth doing while in Lucca, even if only to say you did it.

**My visit took place in January of 2020**…read more An incredible place to visit. This is one of the few cities on earth still surrounded by a medieval wall. The top of the ramparts are filled with vegetation now where people enjoy taking a stroll. This place is a must to go visit. Only a 2 hours train ride through beautiful Tuscany from Rome and it is worth every minute. Best of all... it is FREE to walk around here and visit the city inside the walls. Such a peaceful yet lively place, it definitely takes you back through time as you walk around on top of these walls. The walls loop around the town of Lucca which makes for a very pleasant walk. Also it is a great place to take pictures fly your drone and capture the wall from above. I wish o would have had one back then. Either way I am sure you will enjoy this place of the planet. Highly recommended it. Follow me and my adventures @Sin_Aguayo_Canelito fb: Sin Aguayo

Traveled all over northern Italy and this was the best kept secret. We decided to stop to just…read morecheck out the area. We ended up in the heart of Lucca. It's more of a locals place than a tourist location. Great food and great shops in the area. We truly fell in love with the city.

Definitely a must do when in Italy. I got to see and experience this gem with my own eyes…read more Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, also called Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), is a famous UNESCO World Heritage site featuring four iconic white marble medieval structures: the Leaning Tower (Campanile), the stunning Cathedral, the massive Baptistery, and the solemn Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto), all set on a beautiful green lawn, showcasing breathtaking Pisan Romanesque architecture from the 11th-14th centuries.

The Piazza Del Duomo of Pisa known as "Piazza dei Miracoli" (Cathedral Square), is the area that…read morecontains various historical, preserved landmarks, including the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa". This area was declared a UNESCO Patrimony of the Humanity for the whole area. The outdoor square is accessible to the public, and you can take outside pictures for free (e.g. if you just want to take a picture with you "holding up" the Tower, that can be done with no ticket). If you want to head inside many of the buildings, you can buy tickets at the official site (https://www.opapisa.it/en). Because there was no special exhibit happening during January 2024 (which is definitely the low season for this part of the world), there were six permanent buildings that you can enter: 1. Tower 2. Baptistery 3. Camposanto 4. Cathedral 5. Opera Del Duomo Museum 6. Sinopie Museum. For 2024, prices are 27€ each for the entire experience. Separately, it is 20€ for just the tower, 10€ for everything else. Or a la carte, 7€ each (except the Cathedral which is free, but still requires a complementary ticket acquired at the ticket office the day of). We got the entire experience, and that definitely is the way to go if you intend to stay for a 1/2 day visit. The Tower opens at 9, and the others soon after. It was very sparse at that time, but definitely got busier by lunchtime. But even then, there were hardly any lines anywhere. And because it was a Sunday, Roman Catholic masses were occurring throughout the morning and early afternoon, which you can attend. Definitely would recommend spending 1/2 of a day here, and soaking up the history.

The Piazza dei Miracoli, formally known as Piazza del Duomo, is located in central Pisa. It's…read morerecognized as an important center of medieval art and probably one of the finest architectural complexes. I'd say you won't miss this plaza if you're visiting Pisa.

A trip to Italy would not be complete without a stop in Pisa for the "Square of Miracles"!…read more We visited Pisa as a stopover on our Trenitalia trip back to Rome from Cinque Terre's Manarola. We only had about 4 hours in Pisa before we had to head back to our train, so we made our way directly toward the Piazza dei Miracoli - and it was awe inspiring! Such beauty and history to explore, in the Tower, Cathedral, the Baptistery, etc. Do not stick only to the Tower (and don't do the touristy photo op of "holding the tower up") I highly recommend going into the Cathedral and taking a walk around the inside. Beautiful artwork and architecture inside there. If you aren't able to climb the Campanile (leaning tower) - physically unable to, fear of heights, not enough time, etc - I still recommend this stop in Pisa. The Tower is beautiful from the outside too, if you aren't able to go inside/up, and the other buildings of the Piazza are worth the trip by themselves! One tip: you cannot see the Leaning Tower or any other of the Piazza dei Miracoli buildings by driving by or standing outside on the street. You have to go through a small marketplace of vendors to get to the archway entry. Once inside the entryway, that is where you will see the buildings you are looking for. Have fun!