Italy {part 3}

Our last full day in Italy we visited Pisa with the infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa.  The architecture and design of all the buildings in the complex are quite beautiful and impressive!  I could have done without the crowds of tourists and the vendors trying to sell you trinkets before you enter into the complex where they're not allowed.  

The Torre Pendente (Leaning tower) was built as a bell tower for the Duomo in 1173.  By the time they got to the third floor, the tower had already started leaning and the architects tried to compensate by making the remaining floors slightly taller on the leaning side, but this just exasperated the problem.  The tower has been secured and you can actually climb up it now (but young kids aren't allowed).  

{Doors of the Duomo that depict scenes from the life of Christ}

{my little book worms reading as they walk}

The Duomo (cathedral) is quite opulent (as are most cathedrals).  One of the things that I really liked about the buildings in Pisa that I haven't noticed other places, are the black and white marble stripes.  

{check out that ceiling!}

{Grayson kept pointing to all the statues and saying "Jesus"}

{part of the Camposanto}

{the Duomo and Leaning Tower}

 The Battistero (baptistry) is a large round building across from the Duomo.  There is not much inside (only what you see below) but you can climb up to a balcony to get a good view and the acoustics are really good.  One of the workers sang a song to demonstrate.  

{a view of the baptismal font and pulpit}

{more of the striped architecture}

The Camposanto is a walled cemetery that legend to be filled with dirt that the crusaders brought back from the Holy Land and has beautiful frescoes all throughout.

{some of the frescos in the Camposanto}

{the courtyard in the Camposanto}

{tombs and frescos that are in the process of being restored}

Lucca

After spending the morning in Pisa we drove to the nearby walled town of Lucca.  Lucca is a walled town from the 16/17th century and with 99 churches, was much larger than I expected.  We enjoyed wandering around the town and trying to figure out where to find the best gelato!

{one of the many churches of Lucca--with the same black and white stripes as Pisa}