Torre di Pisa
About
Landmarks & Historical Buildings
Torre di Pisa is the best place to spend your leisure time tasting delicious food and enjoying the nice atmosphere. After visiting our restaurant you will definitely have a wish to come back!
Location
Adress: Piazza del Duomo, Pisa, 56126
Phone: +39 050 835011
Work Hours
Reviews
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Anton K.
Pisa derives from the Greek word for "marshy land". The Torre di Pisa began construction on this swampy land in 1172 but was not completed for another 300 years. Construction started on a weak 3 meter foundation which also contributed to its' instability. Originally 60 meters high, it is now 56.67 meters with an almost 10 degree tilt. The Gothic/Romanesque design is part of a complex which includes the Cathedral of Pisa, the Baptistery and the Monumental Cemetery. All the structures reside in the Piazza dei Miracoli. It is interesting to note that 53 shiploads of earth from the Hill of Calvary in Jerusalem were delivered to this site. Galileo was baptized here in 1565 and later in life conducted scientific experiments in the Torre di of Pisa.
TIPS:
It is 251 steps to the top of the Torre di Pisa.
Admission to the tower is 15 Euro or 17 Euro if you reserve a time slot.
Children 7 and under are not permitted in the tower.
There are seasonal times for opening and closing.
Bus #'s 21 & 4 will take you to Pisa.
There is a train station nearby which has a stop near the bell tower.
Most people stay about an hour.
The most popular time to visit is between 10 am and 11 am.
There are lots of restaurants to choose from in the area.
Vendors selling souvenirs are not terribly pushy.
At night the lights are turned on which make it special.
A museum of Italian History is in the area. -
Sanjay G.
Needless to say, it is the most popular attraction in Pisa and apart from that, you don't have much to see. Many people take the early morning train from Florence, Visit Pisa and come back by afternoon. It really is the most peculiar and impressive structure - how it is still standing is beyond me. The leaning tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Duomo (just like Giotto's bell tower in Florence).
The tower is the campanile or the bell tower. The tower was first erected in August 1173, with construction continuing throughout the next two centuries amidst conflicts in the areas. Various architects have attempted to correct the lean of the 17-story white marble tower over the years to no avail. The lean is actually due to the tower being built on an unstable bed of sand. The ground on which Pisa is built is a flood plain and can't withstand the excessive weight. In fact, the leaning tower isn't the only thing that leans in Pisa, there are plenty of buildings all over the city that lean in every direction -- palaces, churches, even simple houses.
Yes, I am the culprit and I also made funny 'pretend you're pushing against the tower pose'. it was fun. Come on, I am not coming to Pisa every day, I had to do it :P You can climb to the top (€18) if you want the best views. The top of the leaning tower of Pisa can be reached by mounting the 294 steps which rise in the form of a spiral on the inner side of the tower walls.
and one interesting story folks: A legend tied to the Tower of Pisa concerns the astronomer Galileo who, to demonstrate his law regarding falling weights, climbed to the top and is supposed to have dropped objects of different materials to verify the truth of his theories. -
Lori N.
Finally! A check off my Bucket List!! I've always been wanting to see the Tower of Pisa, but every time I've been convinced by everyone that it's too far out of the way of anything, that there's nothing else to see in Pisa except the Tower, and that it would be a wasted a trip. Thankfully, now I have a Hubby who said, "If that's what you want to do, that's what we'll do". No questions asked. And off we went!
In reality, the naysayers are partially correct. The Tower is off the beaten path unless you're staying very near Pisa, which most tourists aren't. Also, Pisa is far from being a tourist-centric town with numerous sights. There weren't even any nearby shopping streets to stroll. However, it's quaint, and a lot more quiet than your typical Rome, Florence or Venice, which can be a nice change. You can opt to get tickets to go to the very top for a view of Pisa, or go inside the cathedral. The Tower is actually the bell tower for the cathedral.
All we did was see the Tower, took our obligatory photos, walked around to view the Tower from different angles and had an enjoyable dinner in Pisa. Pisa itself isn't recognized for its food, but we had an enjoyable dinner outdoors and called it a day. IMO, the Tower is also a nice sight in the evening as well. No regrets, and super happy I saw it live and in person! Ignore the haters. Do what you want. Be you!
Construction on the Tower began in 1173, but was built on soft and unstable ground, hence the leaning.
P. S. For San Franciscans, the Millenium Tower may very well be our next leaning Tower of Pisa! -
Katherine F.
Yes, we stopped in an took a look at this famous spot.
What I learned was... it is leaning far more severely than most pictures capture, I did not want my picture holding it up, and there is a beautiful church in the square that I loved far more. -
Bree N.
Felt like seeing a celebrity as I've seen images of the tower my whole life. Pretty awesome seeing it in person. A lot harder than I imagined trying to take a decent photo with it. While we spent maybe 30 minutes engaging with the tower, We found a restaurant nearby with a great view of the tower which was nice as the crowds of people trying to capture the perfect selfie were plentiful and never ending. Worth the three hour train ride from Firenze.