Day Trips and Excursions :: THE WONDERS OF PISA

THE WONDERS OF PISA
The Leaning Tower and More

Meet your authorized local guide at the majestic Medieval gateway to the Piazza dei Miracoli. This magnificent square - and the elegant buildings which populate it - forms one of the most harmonious Romanesque architectural complexes in the world – and certainly one of the most visited. Of course, the primary goal of nearly every visitor is to view the gravity-defying Leaning Tower – one of the Wonders of the Modern World and an incredible joy to behold. With your expert guide, learn the history and mystery of this structure – including what has been done to stabilize it in recent times and the prognosis for the future. Visit the interior of the Duomo with its splendid cassettone ceiling, gorgeous Byzantine mosaics and unique incense burner. It was while observing the elliptical path of this buttafumo that, according to legend, Galileo was inspired to elaborate his Law of Elliptical Orbits to describe the path of the earth around the sun. Admire the glorious pulpit in Carrara marble by Giovanni Pisano and the tomb of local patron, San Ranieri. The tour proceeds with an interior visit to the Battistero. Here, a combination of architectural flukes has resulted in one of the most unique acoustical phenomena in the world: a sound will reverberate twelve times before dissipating therefore a series of notes sung in quick succession will blend and form chords such that one voice appears to be an entire choir. Enjoy an unforgettable demonstration. Next proceed to the heart of Renaissance Pisa to visit the glorious Piazza dei Cavalieri – once political nexus of the Ancient Marittime Republic of Pisa and locale of the Napoleon’s renowned Pisa Normal School which has counted some of Italy’s greatest minds – including Enrico Fermi and Giosue Carducci - as pupils.