What’s more than visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World?
Pisa, home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, was built in the 12th century and was inclined when its construction was finished. To get to this wonder, you walk through a small alley named after the legend, none other than Leonardo da Vinci himself.
A true wonder, the 56m white marble cylindrical structure serves as the bell tower for the Piazza Del Duomo that stands near the leaning tower.
Never underestimate the crowd even on a weekday. It was so crowded that we had to skip climbing the leaning tower of Pisa 😒.
The Duomo and cathedral offer some stunning architecture. An example of Romanesque architecture is known as Pisan architecture.
As the clock struck two, our guide made sure that everyone had gathered to travel to the next destination- the beautiful city of Florence.
Florence
We reached around 4 in the evening and the sun was shining bright. Our travel agency had prepared a guided tour of Florence for those who were interested. I decided to explore on my own and broke from the crowd to visit the place I had noted down from the recommendations from other travel blogs. I would have preferred to join the guide if we had reached Florence in the morning or afternoon. I hiked towards the Piazza dedicated to the city and one of the world’s most famous artists and sculptors- Michelangelo. On the way to the top, the hike provides us with some beautiful fountains and miniature waterfalls flowing through the steps.
Piazzale Michelangelo is a square with his famous statue David standing tall in the centre.
The centre is the city’s main viewpoint as it offers a panoramic view of the whole city with the cathedral’s dome standing out. This is a must-visit place for those who want to get a good view of the city and click some photos.
One can hike down and take two exits, one leading towards Ponte Vecchio- the medieval stone bridge with shops and restaurants on both sides else walk down to take the bridge. I decided to take the exit to Ponte Vecchio as it would lead to the old town and straight to Florence’s centre square- Piazza della Signoria.
The Piazza also features a replica of Michelangelo’s David. Florence’s famous landmark and number on every travel blog and places to visit in Florence- the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a few minutes’ walk from the Piazza. Path to Cathedral offers us some authentic Tuscan restaurants which one can keep note of to entertain their taste buds.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Duomo di Firenze as people call it. The construction started as a gothic church in 1296 and took 140 years to complete where it passed between different architects. The dome, which is the main attraction of the cathedral, broke the gothic style that began and finished the cathedral with a Renaissance touch.
The main door of the cathedral features a mural from the life of Madonna-
Christ enthroned with Mary and John the Baptist
When you walk around the city, you can come across different museums, architecture, statues and points of interest you would have come across many Hollywood movies. When in Tuscany, you would need to try a Tuscan dish and I went to an authentic restaurant named Trattoria da Benvenuto.
The restaurant had a great ambience and had homemade pasta on the menu which was prepared fresh after ordering. When the dessert menu arrived, I asked the waiter what the Tuscan special was and he recommended me a dish named Cantucci e Vin Santo. I expected it to be either a cake or an ice cream with wine, but I was completely surprised by what was placed in front of me.
Vin Santo, a Tuscan wine speciality with a strong punch added flavour to the biscuit (Cantucci) which had to be dipped into the wine to make it soft. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Florence. Anyone who has checked images of Florence knows that the city has a different view at night and is well captured from Michelangelo Piazza or a small hike halfway through the Piazza.
After a long day in Florence, it was time for us to return to the hotel in Bologna. The canals of Venice await us on Day 3. See you there.
Home | Comune di Pisa — Turismo
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy: Guide to the Tower of Pisa
Typical tuscan cuisine in Florence city center ! Trattoria da Benvenuto (trattoriabenvenuto.it)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore | The Opera del Duomo
