What I loved about that Mediterranean cruise I took with Disney in June 2014, is the fact that it put so many historically important places within my reach. All one had to do was take the tours to relive some of the most wonderful moment in the development of this beautiful world.
One of the very interesting ports of call for me was La Spezia which opened up Florence, the capital of Tuscany and its most populous city as well as the leaning Tower of Pisa .
I imagine that it is because the great Michelangelo was born in Florence why it became such an important artistic centre in Italy and the birthplace of the renaissance.
I don't know if one could ever have enough time to visit the numerous churches and museums that make that city an art lovers paradise and I did find some of their modern art quite creative and amusing.
As nature would have it, the world was almost deprived of the beautiful treasures kept in Florence as the river Arno flooded the square with the waters rising in excess of 20 feet, in 1966.
This flood not only killed many people but also destroyed millions of works or art and rare books and it is a tribute to the Italians and art lovers throughout the world including such well known names as the late Richard Burton, that so many works or art were restored.
After an amazing tour of the historic city and overwhelmed by the wealth of artistic talent that developed in the historic city, we then took a bus tour to the leaning tower of Pisa .
This trip should have taken us just over an hour, but unfortunately, our tour bus blew out a front tyre and it was only the expertise of the driver that saved us from disaster.
We were fortunate too that this happened a mere fifteen minutes from Pisa where the tour company had other buses, so one came for us withing half hour so we could continue our tour.
I certainly did not know that the town of Pisa with its just under 100,000 residents, was an industrial town until I visited as I had always just imagined it to be a site in un-populated area which tourists visit for its interesting history. The city is also home to the University of Pisa which dates back to the 12th century.
To get to the leaning tower, you pass though the small town and travel along streets beautifully lined with huge trees which give the impression of it being a green area.
Once you get into the vicinity of the leaning tower, the place is full of vendors with attractive stalls and exhibitionists who perform all sorts of interesting tricks in the hope that the thousands of tourists who pass through will appreciate their outstanding feats and donate money.
It is quite a long walk from the parking area to the tower complex but there is never a dull moment as there are so many attractive souvenirs and mini shows to see along the way.
Once there, we learnt that the leaning tower is actually the bell tower of the city's cathedral and is the third oldest building in the cathedral square. We did not get an opportunity to go into the bell tower however as one has to make reservations long on advance to do so.
The tower on which construction started in 1173, is made from marble and is just over 183 feet tall with 296 steps. It was not completed until around 1264 after several different builders had participated. However because the tower is built on soft soil, which is why it is leaning, no builder wanted to take credit!!
However, the fact that it leans is what has made it such a popular magnate for tourists and although there are always efforts being made to prevent it from collapsing, there are no plans to straighten it!
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One of the very interesting ports of call for me was La Spezia which opened up Florence, the capital of Tuscany and its most populous city as well as the leaning Tower of Pisa . |
| Humorous modern street art |
I don't know if one could ever have enough time to visit the numerous churches and museums that make that city an art lovers paradise and I did find some of their modern art quite creative and amusing.
 |
| Street art in Florence |
 |
| The bridge over the Arno river was constructed in 1345 |
After an amazing tour of the historic city and overwhelmed by the wealth of artistic talent that developed in the historic city, we then took a bus tour to the leaning tower of Pisa .
This trip should have taken us just over an hour, but unfortunately, our tour bus blew out a front tyre and it was only the expertise of the driver that saved us from disaster.
I certainly did not know that the town of Pisa with its just under 100,000 residents, was an industrial town until I visited as I had always just imagined it to be a site in un-populated area which tourists visit for its interesting history. The city is also home to the University of Pisa which dates back to the 12th century.
To get to the leaning tower, you pass though the small town and travel along streets beautifully lined with huge trees which give the impression of it being a green area.
It is quite a long walk from the parking area to the tower complex but there is never a dull moment as there are so many attractive souvenirs and mini shows to see along the way.
Once there, we learnt that the leaning tower is actually the bell tower of the city's cathedral and is the third oldest building in the cathedral square. We did not get an opportunity to go into the bell tower however as one has to make reservations long on advance to do so.
However, the fact that it leans is what has made it such a popular magnate for tourists and although there are always efforts being made to prevent it from collapsing, there are no plans to straighten it!
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