Pisa

We got the 11.30am bus from the site, into Pisa. The bus timetables strike me as a bit odd as, there was a bus back at 2.30pm then the next one wasn't until 6.05pm, and the next after that was 8pm. This doesn't sound too bad until you realise how little time you will actually spend in Pisa, seeing the sights.

Pleasant stroll

Alice from the site at Tamerici dropped us off at the bus stop which saved us about a one kilometre walk, and was gratefully accepted! The bus stops in the nearby village for ten minutes or so and the bus driver spent the whole time chatting to us, asking where we were from, football, the weather, his desire to visit England, he was lovely.
When we got to Pisa, he told us to stay on the bus after the last stop, and he would show us where we needed to get the return bus from, later that day. How's that for service?

'To me, to you...'

Although we went into Pisa twice, first time Sue and me, second time, me with Harry the nephew, (see When Harry met Harry) I've included pictures from both visits, so as not to overcook the Pisa visits or, hopefully, confuse anyone!

River Arno

Pisa is a nice place to wander around town without any fear of getting hopelessly lost and, just about everyone, is heading for the tower or coming away from the tower. The city is split by the tuscan river Arno but it hardly gets a mention. There's also a small curch on the banks of the river Arno, the Santa Maria Della Spina, dating from 1200, barely a mention. That tower is stealing all the glory!

Santa Maria Church

We walked through a smaller version of Barcelona's 'La Ramblas' and came to the wall which makes up the Piazza del Duomo, inside which is Cathedral square.
Which ever direction you take to Cathedral Square, the effect when you first see the leaning tower, will be the same. 

Entrance to the Piazza

It's enormous! Far bigger than I had anticipated and truly impressive. The lean, for which it is most well known, of course, is far greater than anticipated from any pictures you may have seen. I think that this is because most photos can't capture the true lean given the areas from which the pictures have to be taken. 

Harry let's his 'cool' slip, to pose

There's a large area of manicured lawn that no one is allowed on to. This restricts the angle at which pictures can be taken. Cathedral square is in itself an amazing place housing the Steeple (leaning tower, to you and me!) the Cathedral, the Baptistry, and the Graveyard. Still, no matter which way you look at it, the tower steals the show.