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Original poster

Visiting the leaning tower in Pisa

22 replies

clumsymum · 17/01/2007 10:52

We are going on a cruise in April, and will have 1 day in Pisa.

Friends have told me that you need to buy a timed ticket to visit the tower. As ds is absolutely desperate to visit it, does anmyone know if it is possible to get tickets in advance, from this country?

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SmileysPeople · 17/01/2007 10:54

Not sure on that I'm afraid. But I do know from taking DS last yesr that there is a minimum age for going up 7/8yrs I think. DS who was 6yrs couldn't go up. Hope that's not a problem for you.

Original poster

clumsymum · 17/01/2007 11:01

oh Smileys, thanks, I didn't know that. DS is 7, but looks older. do you have to prove age with a passport or something?

I do so want to encourage ds's interest in history. He is also desperate to visit the Coliseum when we go to Rome.

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SmileysPeople · 17/01/2007 11:05

I don't know about that clumsymum, there must be an Italian/pisa tourist board you could contact for all the info? Definetly worth getting the tickets in advance, the queues were huge. My Ds spent all his holiday money on a light up leaning tower of Pisa, you may come home with some great tat

Are you going to Florence? My Ds loved that. He's really into history. We haven't been to Rome , but he really wants to go!! Sounds like a great holiday you're planning.

MrsWobble · 17/01/2007 11:08

you don't have to prove age but you will be asked directly. we decided not to lie in front of our children last year - also decided that if the age restriction was because of safety then we didn't feel particularly comfortable with a small for age 7 year old. Also, we got there about 11.30 and first available tickets were 4.30.

SmileysPeople · 17/01/2007 11:10

We're always making our Ds lie about his age or .
Ususlly to get in cheaper or free for under 5's. Don't think we'll get away with it any longer he's had a growth spurt. Damn.

Chandra · 17/01/2007 11:13

I was there early in May last year and there were not enough tourists as to worry for getting a timed ticket in advance of the visit but I supose that if you are going during Easter things may be very different. Anyways, if you are taking an excursion organised by the cruise they will take care of that.

Regarding the 8 yr old rule, I wouldn't skip it, the railings are not safe for a younger child. Or even for an older one who may find it easy not to follow rules to the letter.

TeeCee · 17/01/2007 11:15

So funny watching everyone standing on the wall leading up to tower having their picture taken looking as if they are trying to push tower over!!! PMSL at the cheesiness, and yes we did join in with the cheese!

Original poster

clumsymum · 17/01/2007 11:20

We didn't want to go on the cruise excursion, we tend to make our own way.

We shall be there after easter, out of school holiday time (Can't help it, have to work round dh's contract ending). So maybe it won't be so busy.

The age limit is 8 then? if so, we may not be able to let him go up.

We had decided to spend time in Pisa rather than Florence, as I thought Florence might be a bit too highbrow for a 7 y.o.

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SmileysPeople · 17/01/2007 11:26

Pisa and Florence are good.
The tower is very impressive in RL, but not much else to see. It's a nice city though, away from the tower lovely shops, restaurants and streets. we met a couple there who were on a cruise, they had made their own way on the train and have saved a fortune compared to the cruise trip.

My DS loved Florence. We went for 1 day. I found if I had the guide book and told tell him all about everything he loved it. But he does seem to like any history.

Chandra · 17/01/2007 11:37

I think cruise excursions are good if you have a very limited time, because they ensure you see all the important things at the speed of light... having said that, I still have problems to remember what country a couple of cities were in after such a race.

In terms of what to see... we spent a few days in Pisa as DH had a few meeting there and it was nice and not as crowded as Florence, but not as beautiful or interesting as it either. I have been 3 times to Florence and I always come back feeling I didn't have enough time to see that other thing I wanted to see while I don't think I will be back to Pisa again.

TeeCee · 17/01/2007 11:39

I didn't think there was much else to Pisa other than the tower either tbh. We were staying in Sabn Gimignano and just went to Pisa for the day on the way to the airport to come home.

Original poster

clumsymum · 17/01/2007 11:43

The other prob we have is that my mum is coming with us (am I brave or what?) and she can't walk very far, certainly not spend all day on her feet. So I think we would find Florence frustrating, in that there would be soooo much we wanted to see, but couldn't get to.

I want to have a romantic weekend with dh in Florence sometime (anyone want a 7 y.o. to stay for a weekend?)

I had planned to park granny at a bar in the Piazza, while we went up the tower.

Oh bum

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Ellbell · 17/01/2007 11:44

Went up the tower when I was a student, so can't comment on safety for a 7-y-o (the lean does play havoc with your sense of balance, though - made me feel a bit seasick!). However, I'd have thought that if the age limit is 8 and he's a large 7-y-o he'll be fine (they are bound to err on the side of caution - even in Italy!).

The problem with Florence, I'd have thought, is that it's quite a large city, so if time is limited you might find you are dragging your ds from pillar to post without really seeing anything.

Don't know Pisa well, but the whole of the Piazza dei Miracoli (where the tower is) is gorgeous (Cathedral and Baptistery both worth a visit).

Would you have time to get to another smaller medieval Tuscan city, like Siena (wonderful) or Lucca? You need Califrau... she's the Tuscany expert...

JustUsTwo · 17/01/2007 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SmileysPeople · 17/01/2007 12:01

Florence definetly requires alot of walking, so not good for a not nimble Granny.

All the interesting things in Pisa are around one square somay be best for a 1 day trip for the whole family.
It's quite a long walk from the train station though, so maybe cruise excursiona good idea>?Get taken straight to places?

My DS was very chuffed with just seeing the tower ( and would probably have been scared to go up in reality, he went up the Duomo and didn't like it)and doing the holding it up/pushing it over photo thing, and buying tat and eating ice cream. we had a good day there.

fairyjay · 17/01/2007 12:09

clumsymum
We called on a cruise last July. We took a cab which gave us the trip to Florence, stopping off at a couple of view points and a couple of hours in the city, and then called in at Pisa for an hour on the way back. It was cheaper, but gave us our own flexibility as well.

Our children are older - 13 and 14 - but we all loved the ambience of Florence, albeit for a limited time. To be honest, I found Pisa a little 'Blackpool - ish', although the Cathedral was beautiful inside. We didn't go up the tower, because of the waiting time.

And we also posed for the cheesy photos!

Chandra · 17/01/2007 12:11

Agree about the walking around, Pisa would be far easier than Florence. If you are staying for several days it is worth it to rent a car and visit San Giminiano or Siena, although walking from car parks in medieval cities is always an issue.

Now, if you want to pay a short visit to Florence, trains from Pisa to FLorence don't take long and are not expensive, and on arrival you can take a taxi to your chosen attraction. I try to plan ahead what I want to see which helps to focus and organise things better (i.e. instead of trailing from room to room in an oversize museum I just choose which works I want to see, ask for the location of them at the door, and enjoy the luxury of sitting in front of them for a few minutes rather than wasting time trying to cover everything).

Chandra · 17/01/2007 12:13

Am I the only boring person here who didn't have cheesy photos of the tower???

TeeCee · 17/01/2007 12:21

We nearly didn't do the cheese pics but it was so funny and stupid that we had to join in for the crack and the pictures we gor back are very silly and very funny!

Original poster

clumsymum · 17/01/2007 12:23

Thanks Everyone.

Fairyjay, I am thinking of getting a cab to take us to Pisa, so we avoid the walking. Anyway my mum has a folding mobility scooter which will fit into a car boot.

I don't like the excursions cos you spend so long getting on and off coaches, You always have to move on just as you are getting interested in something, and there is always some Moaning Minnie complaining about it (I guess this time we may haveour own with us !)

Anyway, if we have exhausted the possibilities of Piza, we can go back and have a swim before everyone else gets back to the ship.

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fairyjay · 17/01/2007 12:39

I think you're right to do the cab. They'll be waiting as you disembark, so it should be pretty easy for your mum.

Original poster

clumsymum · 17/01/2007 12:42

JustUsTwo Thanks for the link (I had googled, but didn't find it).

It does say minimum age of 8. We have to have a very hard think to decide. DS really does want to go up, but as dh is terrified by heights, I might have think about telling ds that he can't this time.

Shame tho'.

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