Train switch in Pisa to see tower...

You don't need tickets to walk around the Field of Miracles - it's wide open. You can store your bags at Pisa Centrale station. From there, Rick's book says you can walk directly to the tower in 30 minutes, or follow a more leisurely one-hour stroll that he describes, or take the LAM Rossa bus at least one way (about €1.20 to buy tickets from a tabacco/kiosk or €2 onboard).

About 20 minutes or so each way to walk.

You have free access to the Field Of Miracles. I like it very much, and have no interest in climbing the tower. I love the Baptistry and the whole Field of Miracles setting.

If you speak to Europeans about getting off a train and onto another it is referred to as "changing" trains.

Awesome! Thank you both for your insight! It's much appreciated and super helpful for me :)
Laura, does the station have lockets to store luggage? If so, any idea how much they are or how big they are?

No lockers.

It is a staffed deposito bagagli, where you pay per piece (€4 for up to 12 hours per piece). See the pdf at http://www.depositobagaglipisa.it/tariffe.pdf

The home page is at http://www.depositobagaglipisa.it/index.htm If you click the links you can see photos, and "dove siamo" shows you exactly where.

Keep a couple of things in mind - Assuming you are traveling on Regionale Train so that you can get off and on at your convenience. Second, the Regionale ticket has a time window of five hours from when you validate the ticket so be careful of your time so the ticket doesn't expire before you are back on the train. And you might consider just buying a ticket from LaSpezia to Pisa and then a ticket from Pisa to Florence. And, of course, not validate the Pisa/Florence ticket until ready to leave Pisa. Little difference in cost between buying one ticket or two.

Thanks guys! I already have my tickets through Rail Europe. They are two seperate tickets (La Spezia to Pisa then Pisa to Florence) and can be used any time that day. So like you said we won't validate them until we are ready to board. Thanks!

Thanks Nigel for the links!

I would be very curious to know what you paid RailEurope for those two tickets? If you don't mind. Are you sure you know the type of ticket that your purchased? There is a mix of trains on that route from Frecciabianca (high speed) to Intercity to Regionale. Only Regionale ticket allows you get on any Regionale train that day. All other tickets will be restricted to a specific train at a specific time. Regionale tickets purchased on-line come pre-validated with restrictions. Only Regionale tickets purchased from a machine or an agent at the station need to be validated. I am concern that you may not have Regional tickets. So knowing you ticket type is important.

With limited time, take a taxi from the train station to the sight. The baggage deposit is at the end of the platform. Allow enough time to deposit and collect your bags - there's probably only one man on duty, so there may be a line - or he may be on a break. You'll need to have photo ID handy when you leave your luggage.

Take time to visit the church and the baptistry while you are there. Both are lovely.

Hi Frank, We got all out tickets to different cities through TripMasters.com who we booked through. The tickets from Pisa to Florence are $11. I doesn't have a time on the ticket like our La Spezia to Pisa ticket. The people at TripMasters said we can use it whatever time work best. I checked on RailEurope's website and they seem to have a train going about every 30 min.
The ticket is valid for two two weeks. I don't see the word "Regionale" anywhere on the ticket, so I don't know what train it is besides RailEurope. Is RailEruope the ticket type then?

Thanks Chani!

You need a better understanding of the rail system. RailEurope is a travel agency and not an operating train company. They generally sell marked up, limited, train tickets to North Americans. They resell Trenitalia tickets. You should be using trenitalia.com - the national train company of Italy for all schedule information. Second, all trains in Italy, except the Regionale train require an advance reservation - commonly called seat reservation - prior to getting on the train. If you don't have it, you have no seat and can be subject to a 50 euro spot fine if caught. Regionale trains are all open seating. Just get on and go. No seat ?? Stand till one becomes available.

It sounds like the LaS to Pisa maybe a reserved ticket. It must also show a train number, car number, and a seat number. On-line Regionale tickets come pre-validated with a stated start time and are good (valid) for three hours. You could have a Regionale ticket that is good for 0800 to 1100. You can get on any R train between that time frame. Do not try to use it on an Intercity or fast train.

Make sure you understand exactly the type of ticket you have. If can get expensive if you are wrong. I have never heard of a two week ticket but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. It just sounds a bit odd.

I was hoping the ticket price might give me a hint as to your ticket. If you paid $11 then you might be on the fast train since the super economy ticket on that run is 9.90 E today. The intercity is 8E ($9) and the Regionale would be 7.50E ($8.50). There is a train about 30 mins, BUT it is a mix of trains, Regionale, Intercity, Intercity, Regionale, Fast. Regionale trains can be every two hours with ICs inbetween. Depending on your ticket you have to get on the correct train.

Thanks Frank, I am still a little confused on how it all works. We booked our entire trip for a good deal through TripMaster, they include the train tickets. The people I talked to said you just show that ticket when boarding the train. They also said that I just need a PNR # for my etickets for some of the other trains and I just give that number when boarding. I'm skeptical of this. I feel like there's something more to do.
Trains are the one thing I'm nervous about while traveling, because it seems I'm getting different info. Ugh.

They are correct is that you only need the PNR# but the printed tickets need to show the train number, car number, and seat number for YOUR information. Look closely. It has to be be there. The big problem is that it is rare to show your ticket on boarding. No one checks boarding. It is after you are on board, the train is rolling, and the conductor comes through the car checking tickets. If you are on the wrong train, they will hit you with a 50E fine, payable now and off at the next stop.

Call them and have them explain their tickets. Good luck.

Frank, Thank you. I do have the specific info like .italo, trenitalia, and seat numbers on all my other trains. I see that now.
For the Pisa tickets this is what they just told me...
"Open tickets are valid for a specific route and can be used to board any train that runs on this route that does not require a reservation. It’s quite flexible because you can decide which train to take after you’ve bought the train tickets. With open tickets, you do not have a pre-assigned seat. You can sit in any available seat in the class of service your train ticket was issued for."

Again, they are correct but let me highlight some of their phrases

Open tickets are valid for a specific route and can be used to board
any train that runs on this route that does not require a
reservation. It’s quite flexible because you can decide which
train to take after you’ve bought the train tickets. With open
tickets, you do not have a pre-assigned seat. You can sit in any
available seat in the class of service your train ticket was issued
for."*...

The ONLY train that does not requirement a reservation is the R trains - Regionale. So you can only ride an R train.

Their comment about "after you’ve bought the train tickets" bothers me a bit. Are they expecting you to buy the tickets? There is no reference to validation. On the surface it doesn't make any sense. Generally the practice is you buy a Regionale ticket at a station, Tobacco shop, machine, etc., and it can be used anything within the next sixty days but it is not a valid ticket until you time stamp in one of the little blue/yellow/green boxes near or on the train platform. The tickets are a cardboard stub that is an inch or so wide and a couple inches long that can be stuck in the slot of the validation machine and a date and time is stamp on the end of the ticket. The 8.5 x 11 ticket your print at home cannot fit into the machine so those tickets come pre-validated with day and time period that the ticket is valid.

What does your ticket say beyond Pisa?

A really good education just above.

Ashley Lynn, can you type into here exactly what it says on the actual tickets between La Spezia and Firenze (Florence)? All the information (except your name of course), top to bottom, left to right. They come in a specific format and we can make that clear to you.

Or, do you only have one piece of paper with a PNR and QR code on it? If so, could you share that please?

Yes, I'm learning a lot and I appreciate the info.
Okay, so they said I do have a Regionale "open" ticket. One that doesn't need stamped or checked until I'm on board the train. They said I can use any Regional train for any time. Hopefully this is correct.
Below is the info on this ticket...

SNCF/ Ticket/ 1 adult
the dates it's valid through

From- Pisa Centrale
To- Florence
Date *
Time * There is no time on the ticket just a * in those spots
via Empoli
Full Fare Adult
The price $11
Then a two different 9 digit numbers
REI #

I also have E tickets for other train rides with the PNR # and a barcode. These say the train company, the seat #, etc. Do these need stamped before boarding or will they just check it on board?

Sorry for all these question I just want a clear understanding.

Is that Regionale Pisa Firenze on card stock - like a real ticket - or is it a printout? Usually an open ticket like that will be on card stock which fits in the validation machine, and will need to be validated by punching in the machine. The e-tickets you just show to the Capotreno when she or he come through to check tickets....

The pisa to florence ticket is on card stock like a real ticket. I will try to get it stamp then I guess, although they told me I don't lol I'm not sure they know what they are talking about lol

Now we's got it. It makes sense that it is a real open Regionale ticket - regardless of what those others told you, and it absolutely MUST be stamped in the special machine on the platform before you get on the train in Pisa. If you don't stamp it you will get Ken on here who will lecture you about the big fine you will get which will be collected on the spot (stealing his thunder).

Okay, great! We will get them stamped!
Thank you all so much for you're help and guidance! I really appreciate it!