Until you have been to and seen the leaning tower, no picture can do it justice, it really is an incredible structure.

We went to the leaning tower and Cathedral in Pisa as part of our holiday to Florence. I had read reviews saying it was nt worth the hype and it was nt that great, well those people must have no pulse and less passion...it was a highlight and memorable day.

I recommend pre-booking your tickets, the website (offical website) is easy to use and can select your time slot, and then pick them up from the ticket office once you arrive. The official shop next to the ticket office sold gifts of a better quality than some of the tat stalls that surround this area, and a interesting array of books, including the hisory of its restoration, going back to the earliest interventions, which was approx £5.

Ok, so up the tower we go, and at first you cant overly feel the lean. You come out on the first viewing platform some way up and at first its really enjoyable (even if you have vertigo), with great views into the Cathedral square, football ground and surrounding area. At this level you can walk a full circumference around the tower on the outside.

When you walk around on the down part of the lean though, you feel as if you are being forced away and off the tower and this is nt nice if heights are not your thing.

On up another flight of stairs and you come out on another outside gallery, this time you can only walk a quarter circumference and this was where I stopped, not going any higher!

My girlfriend carried on up, this time the staircase becomes a tight spiral staircase and she went on upto the top. The wind, quite noticeble and strong at the top did make her feel like she could be blown from the top, and although she has a good head for heights, did feel a little nervous but felt it was worth it for the views.

I cant emphasise enough how glad I am I pushed myself to go up the leaning tower, albeit not quite to the top. Remember it was closed for around 10 years whilst they tried to correct the lean, therefore it is a bit of an honour to go up inside it.

If you do get vertigo and want to ask further questions please message through my profile and I am happy to try and help.

If your just interested in the tourist photo, then Pisa is a good stop for you.

Pisa was a suprise stop on my recent trip to Europe with Contiki.

I am definetly glad that I got to see this attraction once in my lifetime, but doubtful that I would make the trek again.

There isn't much to experience surrounding the tower, besides a bunch
of illegal purse selling!

From: Rixiq 151
Date of visit :April 2006

You absolutely must see Pisa, the Leaning Tower, if approached from the opposite side to the station, when glimpsed between the old City buildings, is quite the funniest sight you could imagine; only the Italians could get away with it. Yes, the Leaning Tower is a tourist trap, yes it gets very busy but with the Duomo etc what a magnificent sight in Italian Spring sunshine with a clear blue sky as a backdrop - don't be put off, see it!

My wife and I were staying in Rome for 5 nights and i wanted to see the tower so we decided to go by train from Rome to Pisa, the train took 4hours and 30 min going and we took the express train back which was 3 hours and 30 min, between trains we only has 2 hours, just enough time to get to the tower and back again to the station and we were unable to go up the tower as the waiting time was 1.30 min.

if you are visiting Pisa for the day and come to pisa by train or bus then you will end up at Pisa Centrale, just out side the station you will go across the road and wait for a "LAM BUS" this bus has a RED stripe/s over it saying "L:AM" this bus will take you to the tower, get on this bus and about 1.5 miles out from the staion the bus will stop and a load of people will get off it - you will know you are at the tower, or when getting on the bus ask the driver to stop at the tower.... bus tickets are €1.00 each and you can get them from the bus driver. to get the bus back again go directly across the road from were the bus left you off and there is a bus stop there - get on the "RED LAM BUS" don't get off at all this bus goes directly back to the Pisa Centrale station.

1st return train from Rome to Pisa is €115.00 for two people.

Not worth traveling from Rome to see the tower but it would be nice if you are staying in Pisa or about an Hours travel away from it.

The ticket office for the tower is in the long building directly to the left of the tower.

Enjoy and i hope you find the tower!