There’s not much to see, but the Leaning Tower of Pisa draws huge crowds.
Pisa felt like the second least safe place, after Naples. It’s less about fear and more about pickpockets. It’s full of tricksters who approach you pretending to sell things and swipe from your bag. The crowds are so dense you wouldn’t notice your nose being cut off.
After pushing through the crowds, my reaction to the Leaning Tower of Pisa was “Huh? This is it?” Still, it’s one of Italy’s iconic photo spots, so many people visit.
The tilting tower looks like it might fall but surely never will.
The classic photo of pushing the tower. Everyone around was busily pushing, so I pushed too.
I remember it as a scorching place. European summers hit 30-40 degrees even in June, which was brutal.
But Italians rarely turn on the AC at home even when they have it. A blackout curtain is enough. You can survive the hot summer. Block the sunlight with blackout curtains and the dry air keeps you cool. Like in hot Maldives, stepping into the shade feels instantly cool. Traveling Europe in summer, homes rarely have windows open, everyone draws the curtains, and inside there’s a big ceiling fan. Blackout curtains plus a fan, and it’s wonderfully cool.
Europe was so hot. Next time, I should go around April or May.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in May 2018 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.