We will be traveling from the Cinque Terre to Siena, with a "layover" in Pisa. I am reading it is a tourist trap, so how long should we schedule our stay? I see RS Pisa Walk is about an hour (one way). We won't pay to tour the Leaning Tower, et.al. Is it worth the walk or should we just make our way to Siena? Appreciate any feedback!!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
If you've never seen the Tower, I would definitely see it if you have the opportunity. The walk between the train station and the Field of Miracles where the Tower is is OK - I'd do it if you have time. There are local buses between the Field and the central train station. I'd probably give yourself 3-4 hours between trains so you can do it at a leisurely pace and not have to rush.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
Coming from La Spezia, if you travel on a Regional train, your train will likely stop at the PISA SAN ROSSORE station, before proceeding to PISA CENTRALE. That station is only 10 min walk from the tower. The only problem is that it does not have a luggage storage, so you’d need alternate plans (like Radical Storage or LuggageHero or similar) if you have bags.
The walk from the central station is 30 min each way. The LAM Rossa bus takes 10 min.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
psullsp, let me help understand, please. I got you must have seen many other 1000-years-old Cathedrals and Baptisteries during your travels. So that's not worth the walk.
Same for the Buffalmacco's fresco who was patiently restored one piece after another for 70 years after the WWII bombing. It's just another fresco showing demons and dead people, Europe is full of such creepy stuff.
Not to mention the Middle Ages Walls of Pisa that were completed in 1284, every tourist trap in Italy boasts a couple of meters or so of walls where people can actually walk. 800 years old or not, a wall is a wall.
And the Palaces along the Arno river... Ok, once you have seen those in Florence why wasting time with their counterparts?
But I wonder, how many tilting towers built in 1173 are you going to see in your life?
Posted by
Virginia
126 posts
I don't remember exactly what the RS walk mentions but we did this as a stop between Genoa and Florence years ago. We walked around the field getting exterior pictures of the tower and other buildings, then went inside the Cathedral and Baptistry, all in about 1-1.5 hours plus walking time (20-30min each way) from the train station. I definitely felt it was worth it. The leaning tower is like the Eiffel Tower- touristy yes, but iconic. From my memory RS mentions the Baptistry almost in passing in the guidebook, but I thought it was stunning and a highlight for me.
Posted by
21 posts
we skipped the tower and went to the marina and beach. it was very nice!!