Pisa for the Weekend

If you are looking for a short break, away from the northern European grey – why not try Pisa. With flights of around 2 hours from across Europe, the difference could not me more surprising.  Artists have for centauries being drawn to the magical light in of Tuscany– I can tell you it works for those escaping the northern grey just as well today.  Form Pisa Airportit is a short ride on the train, or bus – both take about the same time, and drop you opposite sides of the same street. 
Pisa is a city famous for one thing only – it leaning tower, which is now reopen to visitors to climb, but there is more to this town than just its leaning tower.  To start with getting off the plane into 15 degree warmer weather is a remarkable lift for the sprit, if nothing else. Then being blasted by the architecture, with it medieval feel, and rambling appearance the city has its charms.
We stayed at the la Pace hotel, which is a good location for anyone with luggage, as it is just a 3 min walk from the train station – meaning that you can have ditched the bags just minuets after you have picked them up at the airport. (See Hotel Reviews)  Form here it is just a 20 min (easy) walk to the tower.   That is assuming that you don’t stop.  The route takes you across the river, and then up the main pedestrianised shopping street, with several coffee and ice cream stops along the way, it is sure to take longer unless you are really focused.  We found the tower easily and the area around it over run by tourists and people selling trinkets for them.  Whilst there is no doubt this is the main draw for the city – but to just believe that this is the only side to Pisa is unfair.  If you head down towards the area around the station, you will find a much more Italian feel to the city.  With the Trattoria giving quality, good priced quality Italian food. 
It is true that the city is apart from its tower – more for people who like to wonder the streets aimlessly, rather than those with an agenda – or looking to crawl from one bar to the next.  There is no doubt that all of this can be done – but if this is you main goal Pisa will disappoint.  That said there are some real gems if you find the right guide.  Our hotel pointed us in the direction of a great live Jazz venue.  

In the area around Tuscany it seems to be the normal policy to provide snack style food in many of the bars.  This ranges from the normal bread sticks and peanuts that you get throughout the rest of the world but ranges to hot and cold foods in the form of a buffet.  Check with the bar – but in almost every case we found this to be free/ included in the price of drinks.  This can make the drinks seem expensive, but if this substitutes for a meal – it may well balance over all.

Other options:

If you are planning to spend more than a weekend – or feel that you want more of a challenge for you weekend, why not extend your trip to Florence – with more than 2 trains an hour most hours and taking around an hour, it is very easy to get to Florence with it magical art museums.  Together they are both cities make a packed out weekend, our suggestion is that unless you are really looking to push your weekend, do one or the other.