hla

Following our stay in Florence, we have a 7:00 p.m. flight out of Pisa airport. I was thinking of getting a taxi or other car and driver to take us to the tower in Pisa, wait for us while we visit, and then drive us on to the airport. Have any of you done this, and how much did it cost? (We will have our luggage with us, so I'm thinking public transportation would be difficult.)

Also, a timing question. How long is the drive from Florence to the tower; how long to climb the tower with reservations; and how long is the drive from the tower to the Pisa airport?

Are there other sites in Pisa we should allow time for?

Thank you!

ira

Hi hla

www.mappy.com says that it is about 50 mi from Florence to Pisa.

You could take the train for much, much less.

See www.trenitalia.com

ParadiseLost

If you decide on going by train, there is a luggage storage area at the station.
For directions: Under 'Italy' do a search on pisa daytrip directions. Regards, Walter

rex

<<Are there other sites in Pisa we should allow time for?>>

Well, yes - - certainly those who "manage" the "Campo dei Miracoli" would tell you so. I was last there before the tower was re-opened - - and while it's a mix of campy, tacky and "sacred", I submit that it might have been usual, even without ascending the tower, to spend several hours there, viting the spectacular Duomo, its adjacent baptistery, and 4 or 5 other "museums/attractions". I was with a dozen-plus teens, and everyone went into different places (there are multi-pass tickets).

It doesn't seem like you would want to take a taxi all the way from Florence to Pisa - - it's 25-35 miles, I think. The real question is what are you giving up in Florence to do this? - - maybe the more practical plan is to get up and go to Pisa early in the morning (by train, WITHOUT your luggage), then come back for the luggage. I'd leave Florence by 3 or 4, going directly to the airport.

Best wishes,

Rex

Weadles

I can highly recommend a driver to pick you up at the Pisa train station, wait while you visit the tower, then drive you to the airport. His name is: Giovanni Gemini, and he is based in Panzano. He can be reached in Italy at: 3494588440. We recently used him for a similar trip. Of course it won't be cheap-- I'm guessing this will run about 150-200E.

A better alternative might be basing in Lucca for your last night. Lucca is only 30 minutes from the Pisa airport, and you do pass the tower exit along the way there. We paid 40E for a taxi from our hotel in Lucca to the airport. I don't know how much a taxi service would charge for waiting time at the tower, but I'm sure a hotel could arrange this for you.

The tower is only about a 15 minute drive from the airport.

hla

Thank you for all of your helpful responses. I will look into the train into Pisa, and a car for the visit to the tower. I hope to have the time to include a visit to the Duomo. Reservations for the tower say to check in an hour ahead of time. Perhaps this will allow time for the Duomo?

Thanks again to all those who replied.

Weadles

hla,

I thought I'd send along Sr. Gemini's e-mail address. It is: [email protected]
I should warn you that he speaks limited English, but was able to respond effectively ( and quickly!) through e-mails.

We also used a guide/driver for a few day trips in Tuscany who DOES speak English very well. It might be worth checking in with him, too, for an estimate and availability. His name is Luca Garapa, and you can take a look at his website on Hillsandroads.com.

We enjoyed our days with Sr. Gemini ( and sons!) and Luca Garapa very much.

Good luck, and have a great time in Pisa!

hla

Weadles--thank you so much for the information. That was very kind of you. Thanks again!