The Tuscan city of Pisa is famed for a quirk of geology and architecture which draws visitors from all over the world. At any time of day, Piazza dei Miracoli (or Piazza del Duomo) is thronged with coachloads of tourists taking snaps of one another ‘propping up’ the tower. What they miss out on when they get back on the coach, however, is the less celebrated beauty that lies just south of Cathedral Square.
TAKING TO THE STREETS
I arrived in Pisa to glorious afternoon sunshine, highlighting Gallileo Gallilei airport in shimmering gold. The weather came as a pleasant surprise as my weekend visit fell across ‘la Merla’ – traditionally the coldest three days of the year. The centre of Pisa is a short bus ride from the airport, and before long I was marvelling at the hidden courtyard garden of Hotel Novecento and settling into my room. Stepping out to explore in the remaining daylight, I was struck by the haphazard beauty of the city’s tower houses, each built around an archway structure to preserve some stability on the area’s soft, silty soil. All that gazing upwards meant I was soon lost, and aimlessly strolling without a map. The streets of the city crisscross in unexpected directions, and as the light faded I was grateful for the sight of a landmark, the top of the leaning tower peeping over the rooftops at a jaunty angle. I followed it like a star. Beautifully illuminated, uncharacteristically quiet, Piazza del Duomo was particularly beautiful to my eyes as it meant I could find my way back to base. So, a sigh of a relief and a swift right turn onto Via Roma, and there was just time for a shower before dinner.
