Pisa

Pisa was a major maritime republic in the 11th and 12th centuries — its navy controlled the western Mediterranean trade routes before Genoa and Venice superseded it — and the Campo dei Miracoli was built during that period of peak wealth and ambition. The four monuments on the field (piazza dei miracoli means Field of Miracles in Italian) were all constructed between 1063 and the 14th century: the Cathedral, begun in 1063 in a Romanesque style that influenced church architecture across Tuscany and Sardinia; the Baptistery, the largest in Italy, begun in 1152; the Campanile (the Leaning Tower), begun in 1173; and the Camposanto, a monumental cemetery enclosed by a marble arcade built in 1277. All four are UNESCO World Heritage-listed.

The Leaning Tower began to tilt during construction — the soft subsoil on the south side compressed unevenly under the weight of the first three storeys, causing a lean that increased with each subsequent addition. By the time the tower was completed in the 14th century it leaned 5.5 degrees. A decade-long stabilisation project completed in 2001 reduced the lean to 3.97 degrees, which engineers calculate will remain stable for at least 200 years. The tower is 56 metres tall on the low side and 57 metres on the high side; 294 steps reach the top. Tower entry requires a separate timed ticket not included in the Campo dei Miracoli general entry and should be booked in advance online.

Pisa is visited most efficiently as a focused stop of 60–90 minutes on the Campo dei Miracoli before continuing to Florence or Rome — which is how it appears on most Italian tour itineraries. The city has a university (founded 1343, one of the oldest in Europe) and a normal residential life beyond the Campo, but the Campo is the reason almost everyone comes and it is entirely possible to cover it well without an overnight stay. Halal dining options are limited in Pisa; the town centre has a few options near the Piazza dei Cavalieri. A return shuttle bus from the city centre to the Campo is included in standard tour programmes.