We’ve all seen the iconic photographs of the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, London Bridge, etc. then, when you actually see them in real life, they fail to amaze. The leaning tower of Pisa is different. I’d seen the photographs, but the first time I approached the entrance arches, I was amazed! It was seriously leaning! That was in 1988, the last year tourists were allowed to climb the tower before restoration work started on its foundations. I’m happy to tell you that visitors are once again allowed to venture up and around the tower – but I assure you it doesn’t look any safer now than it did all those years ago!
This year, Elaine and I revisited Pisa during our week’s stay in Lucca and walked around most of the town’s landmarks, bridges, shops and cafes. The tower was no less impressive this time but unfortunately the t-shirts and souvenirs on the many stalls lining the roadway along to the tower don’t seem to have changed much since ‘88!
