Pisa, Italy. Capital of the region of Tuscany and seat of a University founded by Napoleon. Hardly known for any of that though this little town on the Arno river is best remembered for its leaning tower.
It is a bell tower around 700 years old in a campus that contains holy churches and a cemetery. The tower itself at about 200 feet tall is leaning substantially to one side and looks ready to tip one day. People pay in time and money and queue up to visit the bell at the top.
We saw it from below amidst many folks trying to get whimsical angles with it showing them supporting or pushing the tower with their bare hands -a sort of optical illusion. There are many attractive sculptures and brass work to be ogled at just wandering the acreage around the tower.
Again it is amazing how well preserved the grounds and the buildings on it still look seven centuries into it.
The train ride from Firenze is about an hour and one can choose to spend an entire day wandering the area along the river.
It is a bell tower around 700 years old in a campus that contains holy churches and a cemetery. The tower itself at about 200 feet tall is leaning substantially to one side and looks ready to tip one day. People pay in time and money and queue up to visit the bell at the top.
We saw it from below amidst many folks trying to get whimsical angles with it showing them supporting or pushing the tower with their bare hands -a sort of optical illusion. There are many attractive sculptures and brass work to be ogled at just wandering the acreage around the tower.
Again it is amazing how well preserved the grounds and the buildings on it still look seven centuries into it.
The train ride from Firenze is about an hour and one can choose to spend an entire day wandering the area along the river.
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