PISA brief visit

I've answered your other thread - go for it if you like, you may find it is a relatively small reward for a big investment.

Thank you all. The reason for the out of the way stop is that I am traveling with my grandson and the leaning tower is something he really wants to see!

It's doable. It will just make for a really long travel day. Donna

Not worth it, imo. If you will be in the general area, sure, but not on a special trip for 3 hours.

We did it - checked our bags at the train stn, walked to the LEaning Tower (didn't go up in) and around the Miracoli plaza (or whatev the technical term is - lol) and back to the train stn. We had maybe 2 1/2 - 3 hrs - our prob was the train we were on kept getting more and more behind and I think we arrived an hour after we had hoped, cutting down on our time there...but it's doable...you just get the quick touristy view! We didn't make a special trip tho, just on our way to Cinque Terre...

it can be done but it's not ideal it's a more convenient day trip from Florence
it's up to you if you want to go for it or not

You might consider taking your GS up to the top of the Duomo in Florence instead. He will remember THAT far longer then the Pisa tower.

If you're planning to return to Florence to catch your train to Rome, then I'd suggest storing your bags at the train station in Florence.

I took my grandson there a few years ago and at his request we went to Pisa... I had been to Italy lots of times before that but never had the desire to go there...since it was his main request we went, and to this day (5 years later) it is still a very special memory for both of us. He did a lot of sketching on this trip and my memory of seeing him sitting on the steps and sketching the tower is priceless. It was one of the first things we saw and I would have regretted ignoring his request. He later did a painting of the tower as I brought watercolor paper and paints for him. Lots of our memories are those quiet special moments that might not excite every traveler, but were special to us.
Have a wonderful time... nothing like traveling with grandkids.

Go for it. Just do be aware that there are scads of souvenir stalls lining one side of the campo area, where the tower is. Here's a brief video clip I took that will show what I mean. Do be sure to go inside the baptistery for a demonstration of the amazing acoustics. Every few minutes, the guard/docent sings for a minute to demonstrate. Here's a video clip that captures that. I read somewhere that composers of the time wrote choral pieces to take advantage of the "hang time" of a sound in this amazing building. Happy travels.

Absolutely! It will eat up the day, but it's THE Leaning Tower of Pisa! (having looked up the skeds on Trenitalia) It's about a 3h30m trip b/n Venice and Pisa (with a comfortable change of trains in Florence), and about 3h b/n Pisa and Rome (most require no train change). IF you can leave Venice by 7 or 8, you can spend 3 hours or so in Pisa, then arrive in time to check into your hotel and have a late-ish dinner - Roma Style! When I was (mumbles)...OK, OK, I was 34!...this was a must-do for me (in the opposite direction on much slower trains). When I rounded the corner and saw that (much more leaning in those days) Leaning Tower, it took every ounce of restraint not to squeal loudly and jump up and down like a 3-year-old! Seriously. It's been (mumbles) years ago, and I STILL remember that feeling! I don't know if your grandson is 3 or 33, but be sure he learns a little bit more about the tower before he goes (and this goes for your entire trip, too); it will be so much more meaningful and memorable for him. Also, consider having him keep a journal or a small scrapbook of memorabilia that you collect along the way. Have a great trip!

Thanks to all of you that took a few minutes to respond. I appreciate all your feedback!

All there is to see is the tower and the church. Doable, but a long day of travel! I'd pick a different town.

Oh, the stalls around the outside selling tourist stuff! It was amazing how many people were buying the cheap 'stuff' there - I couldn't get over it! Didn't even go close - unless you like tacky decor...