Pisa

I woke up to an inclement morning so, rather than hike between the villages in wet and muddy conditions, I decided to take the train to Pisa and see the Leaning Tower, The Piazza dei Miraacoli , where the Tower stands, or rather leans, is about a kilometre or so from the train station and one has to traverse the mighty Arno River by one of its charming bridges to get there. On the southern bank of the Arno I came across the 13th century Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina, an ornate Gothic styled church embellished with three spires and encrusted with statues of the various saints circling its exterior. The Leaning Tower, which was built in the 13th century, is just an incredible sight. Everyone is familiar with it so I won't attempt to describe it except to say it is about 4 metres out of plumb. Engineers have reinforced it  by placing a series of steel braces around the 3rd storey to which they attached steel cables and anchored them to neighbouring buildings. Adjacent to the Tower is the Duomo or Cathedral, which was constructed in the 11th century and is of breathtaking proportions. The interior is held up by over 60 huge, tapering granite columns and  the ornate wooden ceiling is decorated with 24 carat inlays.  As well there is a superb 14th century octagonal pulpit sculptured from local Carrara marble. Michelangelo used this same marble source  for the creation of his masterpieces. Also on the Piazza is the amazing round Baptistry, a double domed construction built in the 12th century. In the middle of the Baptistry is a gorgeous octagonal font in which the great scientist and astronomer, Galileo Galilei, was baptised. Pisa has so much more to offer than just the Leaning Tower and I enjoyed myself wandering aroumd the city.