PISA: THE LEANING TOWER AND MORE
Those who come to Pisa thinking that all they will see is the Leaning Tower may be in for a surprise. The Tuscan city, on the right bank of the River Arno, is the capital of the Province of Pisa and home to many architectural and artistic marvels. Pisa is serviced by regular trains to and from Florence and Lucca, and is also accessible by bus, and has an airport. In fact, Pisa’s Galileo Galilei airport (named after Pisa’s most famous son) is the main destination for Tuscany and central Italy after Rome, and several airlines operate out of it, flying to national and international destinations. Pisa welcomes thousands of international tourists every year, and boasts some excellent accommodation facilities.
Pisa is unusual among major Italian cities in that its origin is unknown. Historians differ over whether the city is of Ligurian or Greek origin, but remains of an Etruscan necropolis and a Roman colony have also been found nearby. At any rate, Pisa first belonged to the Lombard kingdom and later the Carolingian empire. It was also an important naval base in the Roman era, and a centre for Mediterranean trade.
Today, Pisa is divided into four historical quarters, though the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) contains Pisa’s most famous sights. Among them is, of course, the Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente). Originally a cathedral bell tower, construction on it began in 1173 and the tower began leaning owing to subsidence of the ground soon after. The tower is open to climbing, after a successful initiative to stop it leaning any further was completed in 2001. Next to the tower is Duomo di Pisa, the Cathedral, which contains works by Giambolna, Della Robbia, and others. The Baptistery is a large round Romanesque dome with more sculptured decorations and a fine view.
The Campo Santo is a huge cemetery with plenty of interesting art, including a collection of ancient Roman sculptures and pre-Renaissance murals. The Museo del Opera del Duomo also has interesting sculptures and paintings. Then there’s the Museo delle Sinopie, a treat for art lovers. For the devout, the Santa Maria della Spina is important as the repository of a thorn from Jesus’ crown. The old town square or Piazza dei Cavalieri, the Santo Sepolcro (a Templar church), and the Romanesque churches of San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, and Sant’Andrea are other tourist attractions.
Accommodation in Pisa is abundant and of high quality. Our comprehensive list offers you a selection of hotels, exclusive apartments, bead & breakfasts and farmhouses that are designed for international tourists and promise you every comfort. Just take a look and you will know.
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TUSCANY BED & BREAKFASTS: CATCH THE LOCAL FLAVOUR
Tuscany is paradise on earth for most Tuscans, and for several thousand tourists as well. Naturally, for a region that thrives on tourism, accommodation facilities are as varied as they are comfortable, keeping in mind the individual requirements of a traveller. And bed and breakfasts are among the most popular forms of accommodation in Tuscany, because these are largely farm-based accommodation units that give you a genuine taste of rural Tuscan life. As you probably know, Tuscany is famed for its vineyards and olive orchards, and agritourism is immensely popular among visitors. Our list of Tuscany bed & breakfasts accommodation in Tuscany is perfect for you to experience all the charms of Tuscany at its best.
The Tuscany bed and breakfasts that we have selected offer the best in modern comforts while retaining all their old world charm. We also provide you a direct link to the accommodation of your choice, so you can deal with the host directly. Many of our bed & breakfasts in Tuscany also host wine tasting sessions, and guests are welcome to participate, because you need not be a sommelier to appreciate good wine.
The essence of any bed & breakfast is homeliness and a family atmosphere. While we certainly guarantee those in any Tuscan bed & breakfast of our choice, you will also be treated like royalty and stay in surroundings that are best described as plush. At the Castello della Paneretta, for instance, you have five finely furnished bedrooms in the relais adjacent to the castle. The bed & breakfast accommodation is located in the Montesanto area, and is renowned for vineyards. The garden in front of the property is outstanding for its magnificent lawn bordered by green fences alternating with rose bushes and elegant statues. The ground-floor rooms host tasting sessions of the prestigious wines produced by the estate, and special dinners based on typical Tuscan dishes, carefully prepared by the family chefs.
That is merely one example of the kind of accommodation that we offer you if you choose a bed and breakfast accommodation in Tuscany from our list. You will experience the delights of some excellent and typically Tuscan cooking, sample some of the world’s best wines, and live amidst some of the most beautiful landscapes to be found in Italy. What more could you ask for on a vacation to this beautiful country? For a complete list of Tuscany bed & breakfasts, please visit us without delay!
