In late August 2025 we were booked on a Celebrity cruise from Rome to Ravenna. Living on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, it was a long travel day flying from Vancouver to Frankfurt, then making a connection to Pisa, Italy. The next step would have been a train ride to Luca where we planned a four-day stay prior to the cruise. When we realized that 24 hours or more would have elapsed, with a late arrival in Luca, we decided to spend the first night in Pisa. It turned out to be right decision!
We arrived in Pisa in the late afternoon and the taxi transfer to our hotel was easy. We had booked The Royal Victoria Hotel which is located across the street from the Arno River. What a wonderful hotel! It is the oldest in Pisa and has a colourful history of hosting many notable figures. Our suite on the second floor had a balcony view of the Arno River and was noted for having hosted Virginia Wolfe in that very room. The hotel was fascinating with an interesting layout, beautiful architecture and historical photos. Members of the family who own the hotel still live there, and the staff took great pride in its history.
We did not have the energy to go out for dinner and decided to order the wine and cheese plate in the hotel. It was served to us on our balcony and we had a magical evening watching the sun go down over the Arno River.
The next day, after a good sleep and a delicious breakfast, we decided to walk to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the city and the picturesque streets. It was very busy at the tower, with many tourists waiting in line to enter the tower and the cathedral. Instead of visiting these buildings we took city tour in a golf cart. The driver was delightful and it felt like he was taking the corners on two wheels! He filled us in on the history of Pisa as we went, taking us quite far up the Arno. We were particularly interested in seeing the homes that had been owned by the Medici family. We also viewed two other towers in Pisa, both of which also lean!
Going back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and say goodbye before our taxi ride to the train station, we agreed that our stay in Pisa was wonderful!
Here are images of our visit.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720330672868/