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What do think about going to Pisa for a day while on a Honeymoon

Hello my name is giovanna.My fiance' and I were wondering is it worth going to the town of Pisa for a day trip from Florence. What are you thoughts on it. We will be going next year for our honeymoon in the middle of September. I hope someone can give us some advice. thanks giovanna

I've forgotten how many days you are in Florence. If it is 4, then sure, Pisa merits a half day visit, as your SECOND day trip out of Florence. More people will recommend Siena or San Gimignano. Or Arezzo. Or Lucca. YKWIA

I second the above message. Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano. Pisa if it is one thing you've always dreamed of seeing,or if you don't have to miss one of the above, especially Siena.

hi giovanna (what a beautiful name!) i would suggest NOT to go to pisa! the leaning tower can best be seen by a postcard. it looks exactly the same. the side trip we took there lasy oct. took too much out of our time in florence where there is so much to see and experience. congradulations. have a wonderful trip! gretchen.

Is it possible to see Sienna and San Gimignano on one day trip from Florence? We'll be staying in Florence 3 nights and probably Assisi for the following 2 nights (using Assisi as a base to see that part of Umbria). I'm trying to figure out how much we can see without tiring ourselves out too much. I'd love to go to both Sienna and SG, but I don't want to give Florence too short shrift.

Hi Giovanna (I agree, its a pretty name) If you are at all interested in history then I would definitely visit Pisa. It has great historical significance in that is where Gallalau formatted the law of falling bodies and the law of the pendulum.

Maybe I am different than most of you here. I really did enjoy my side trip to Pisa from Florence. The leaning tower of Pisa is one of the many monuments that I always wanted to see and when I saw in real life, it was magnificent. I have taken beautiful photos of the tower with a perfect blue sky background. If you are in Florence for more than a couple of days, do make an effort to visit Pisa for a half day. You won't regret it.

Good grief, Moira! Reasonable people can't even see Duluth and Hibbing in the same day!

If time is no object I would see Pisa. However, I would not squeeze it in. Not worth it. Postcards are the way to see Pisa.

Giovanna- I would visit Pisa. You can take a romantic horse and buggy ride from the train station to the cathedral and begin your sightseeing there. The bell tower is a wonderful thing, but the cathedral itself is very beautiful. Visit the area between the church and the Arno on your way back to the train station-the streets here are old and not crowded and the shops are filled with neat things. If possible, take the train on to Livorno and get a taxi to one of cafes overlooking the harbor and fortifications. Have some drinks or perhaps dinner as the sun sets over the water. Then, take a taxi back to the station for the return to Florence- about 75 minutes away I think.

I also recommend seeing Pisa. It was a great addition to our trip and only a half day is needed. I would also agree with the other post to see Siena. You will need a full day for Siena. I will differ with Lucca, we were not impressed with it or Carrera.

You'll get as many differing opinions as responses. I visited Pisa for a half-day on my second trip to Italy --- yeah, the Tower does look exactly the same as the postcards, but I enjoyed seeing it with mine own eyes. You didn't say how many days you'll be in Florence. And given the choice, I'd say a better day trip would be Siena or Lucca. I LOVED Lucca, very charming --- TOTALLY disagree with above poster. FYI---both Pisa & Lucca are an easy train ride from Florence. Think you may be better served by SITA bus if going to Siena.

did any of you above posters visit Pietrasanta?? It's, I believe, in the same region, and I was curious if it was worth a trip??

Pisa is one of those things you've just got to see -- one of the wonders of the world. For that alone, it's worth the trip. But I wouldn't make it a major destination, just a side trip, otherwise you'll be disappointed because there's not much there. Luckily, it is on the way to Florence so I'd say... go for it!

We went to Pisa as part of a six week whirlwind driving trip to Europe. What I remember about that day was hoards of tourists and lines of cheap stalls selling worthless trinkets. I also remember standing for a long time with binoculars fascinated by the variations in the carvings on the tower. I'm sure there is a lot more to Pisa. I've found that your enjoyment of a particular place depends on you, the mood you are in, your expectations and who you are with. Let's just say that having been to Pisa, I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

Paulo the Italy expert once posted the following suggestions for doing San G. and Siena in one day trip from Florence. I copied it into my Florence file with due credit and am posting the abridged version here: Sept 2000: "…San G. doesn't have a train station of its own. It's served by the train station at Poggibonsi and a bus or taxi to shuttle between both cities would be called for…There aren't direct buses from Florence to San G… There are frequent buses both ways between Siena and San G…The last express bus from Siena to Florence on a Saturday leaves at 7:10pm. I don't know exactly when the last bus leaves from San G. to Florence but you may assume that it's also around 7pm. The last train from San G./Poggibonsi into Florence leaves at 9:45pm, arriving at 10:44pm. From Siena it leaves at 9:23pm, arriving at 10:45pm. In this case, I would take an early (6:30am or 7:10am) SITA through bus from Florence to Siena (arriving at 8:00/8:40am; SITA bus station in Siena is across the square in front of S.M.Novella train station). After visiting some of Siena and lunch, I would find my way to San G. midafternoon (bus at San Domenico church). After visiting and having an early dinner, I would get a taxi to Poggibonsi and a train back to Florence." www.tiac.net/users/pendini/bus.html bus service, Florence airport-train station, & to Siena www.annells.demon.co.uk/main/busita.htm links to websites on Italian bus services http://150.217.9.3/ie/citybus.htm bus service in selected cities in Italy good websites about Siena www.turismoverde.com/english/enhome.htm includes bus schedules www.comune.siena.it For more info on local and provincial transportation refer to http://db.sienanet.it/web/train/ welcome.asp Paulo once also posted an excellent walking itinerary for Siena; you can search for it on this forum, or email me and I'll send you my Florence/Siena file.

I want to take a day trip to Pisa. I will be staying in Rome. Would it be a good idea to take the train or can someone suggest a good day trip?

Oh, I don't think I'd bother with Pisa. I would suggest renting a car in Florence early in the morning and driving down the old Chianti road to Siena. That area of Tuscany is very romantic. Explore a bit, have lunch, explore some more. I don't really think you need a whole day in Siena, although it would be nice. Anyway, get back in the car and drive to San Gimignano for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Have dinner there. Then drive back to Florence - there's an autostrada entrance close to SG - is it Poggibonsi or Colli di Val d'Elsa? Have a great honeymoon.

Skip it and have a wine alongside the river in Florence.