Apart from being one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world as the home of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the city of Pisa is also located near some of the most unspoilt countryside in Italy. The city is on the Arno River, near the Ligurian Sea in Tuscany, a mostly hilly and mountainous region which enjoys a prosperous agricultural industry.
The Leaning Tower, which would still be a remarkable structure even without its fault, has always tilted to some degree. The latest effort to reverse the tower’s inclination was completed in 2000, hopefully preserving the tower for future generations. Nearby, the splendid 12th century Duomo, with its grey marble and white stone colonnades, is definitely worth seeing. The Romanesque and Gothic Baptistery is a spectacular design of simple unadorned majesty, and also should not be missed.
Pisa abounds with quality accommodation and good restaurants. The nightlife is varied, with an array of quiet to buzzing cafés, bars and clubs. It's also entertaining just to walk around Pisa; the city is very compact, with many narrow streets and a wonderful ambience.
For those who have seen enough architecture, the superb Tuscan beaches are nearby. You can also take a ferry out to the scenic islands of Elba, Giglio and Capraia in the Tuscan archipelago. Elba, famous as the kingdom of the exiled Napoléon, is worth a visit for its colourful fishing towns and beaches. Or, if you prefer peace and quiet, just west of Pisa is the Tenuta di San Rossore, a publicly owned park system.
Travel to Pisa by car from Florence along the Florence-Pisa autostrada, through the Arno Valley. Alternatively, take the SS12 or S12r from Lucca. There are frequent trains to Pisa from Rome, Florence, Livorno and Siena. Buses are less convenient though, running from Florence with a change in Lucca, or from Volterra through Pontenedra. Tuscany's main international airport, Galileo Galilei is just three kilometres south of Pisa, and services most major international and domestic carriers.
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