Miracles can happen anytime and anywhere. However, there is one particular miracle that stands out. Actually, it leans out.
In the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a haven for tourists around the world. Everyone brings their phones or cameras, and they run as close as they can to "push" the tower.
Some poses can get crazy, where people appear like they're eating the tower or place gelato cones underneath to pose the tower as scoops of gelato. Gelaterias around the tower now sell individual cones (for around 50 cents) for tourists bold enough to create a unique photograph.
As more and more tourists flock to the tower, it's quickly turned into a 10-minute stop, said Nenimut, a waiter at Ristorante Antoinetta in Pisa.
"People come to take a picture," Nenimut said, "and 10 minutes later, they leave."
There is an increasing fear of tourists not appreciating the environment and history of Pisa, he said. He believes that not many visitors care about the significance of the tower, only the fact that it leans and it’s a good photo opportunity.
Tourists pose to "push" the tower individually and with their friends and family.
When I asked why people only go to the tower for a few minutes, he believed the primary reason to be that no one knows or cares about the history or the stories behind the tower.
In 1063, construction for the cathedral began, followed by the baptistery in 1152. The tower’s construction started in 1173 or 1174, and it was built to be a bell tower. Unfortunately, the tower soon began to tilt.
The leaning was not intentional; the shifting soil the tower was built on caused the angle. Pisa is divided by the Arno River, making Pisa’s soil very soft and weak to hold the tower’s weight. Through many efforts over the next few centuries, the leaning got worse, making the tower tilt at almost four degrees.
Streets surrounding the tower are not super crowded. A few restaurants and gelato carts entice tourists for meals and desserts after their exhausting photo-taking. When I went to dinner with my six friends, it wasn’t hard to find restaurants, since most of the tables were empty.
Not many people go to the tower since getting there is a bit difficult, Nenimut said. The train station is pretty far from the tower and "can sometimes not be worth the long walk for 10 minutes."
To make Pisa a fun experience, a half-day trip from Florence may be the best option. Except for the few blocks around the Leaning Tower, Pisa is a pretty residential city, and there isn’t much to do if you want a hiking or outdoors-type of day.
From Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, the stop is Pisa Centrale, about an hour from Firenze S.M.N. Most likely, the train's route will go somewhere else, like La Spezia or Livorno Centrale (but no worries, they both stop in Pisa).
Once you get off the train, go down the stairs and head to the exit marked "Piazza Stazione." To get to the tower, walk 30 minutes northwest or catch the bus (it takes about 10 minutes from the station to the tower).
If you prefer a bus ride, there is a kiosk to purchase bus tickets for a euro and 40 cents. The tickets are valid for 70 minutes, and they include unlimited rides on Pisa buses. The buses come every 10 minutes, but the quickest bus to take is the LAM rossa, or LAM red, heading to Park Pietrasantina.
When you first get on the bus, validate your tickets in the black machine at the front of the bus next to the driver. Get off at "Torre" (about 5 or 10 stops later), and the stop is conveniently located next to Square of Miracles and the tower.
Of course, you need to take photos of pushing the tower. It's a classic, and although it's super cheesy, it's a nice novelty photo to keep. To add to more photos, you can take Snapchat photos of the tower. "Geofilters," or animated graphics that show your location, add character to selfies or funny pictures.
A Snapchat Geofilter of Pisa and a classic pose where you "kick" the tower.
While you're there, take advantage of the tourist office across the street from the square. There are brochures, audio guides and tour guides that can inform you about the history of the tower.
To make your views of Pisa a bit more interesting, climb the 297 steps to the top, and you'll see the "Leaning Skyline of Pisa." I couldn't go up (the tickets were sold out for the day), but Nenimut said it's interesting viewing the city from a different angle-- literally. A 3.99 degree angle shifts your perspective on the world.
Once you climb down the stairs of the tower, the cathedral stands right in front of you. Some of it is under construction, but the excessive amount of marble that was used is clearly shown on the outside.
The street along the Square of Miracles is packed with people from around the world. Families collectively push, kick or hold up the tower. Some just stand there and admire the nearly-900-year-old marvel.
Finally, step away from the tower and walk along the side streets. Since there are usually not many people in May, there are great spots for photos with no people in your shot. Some streets have a distant view of the tower, while others have apartments and shops. You can still admire the rustic beauty of Pisa without the hundreds of people packed on a street.
To leave from the Square of Miracles, go to the stop marked "Torre" across the BNL. The bus you'll need back to the station is Ospedale Cisanello. If you don’t feel like you’re ready to leave Pisa yet, the Arno River bridge dividing Pisa is a good spot for photos. The bridges are not as crowded as the ones in Florence. Take the same bus back from there to go back to the station.
Nenimut said Pisa’s charm is unique, but he’s sad that tourists don’t cherish it like they used to. He thinks only time will tell the future of Pisa, and although Pisa’s reputation has been leaning back and forth, the tower will always make its visitors speechless.
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