Pisa, Italy

The Square of Miracles (Campo dei Miracoli complex) in Pisa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The white structures of the Cathedral (Duomo) and the Baptistry, both in Pisan Romanesque architecture; the Monumental Cemetery (Camposanto Monumentale); and the Bell Tower, known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa stand out against a green lawn. 

Galileo, a famous Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer from Pisa, is believed to have formulated his theory about the movement of a pendulum by watching the swinging of the incense lamp (not the present one) hanging from the ceiling of the nave in the cathedral. That lamp, smaller and simpler than the present one, is now kept in the Camposanto, in the Aulla chapel.

Another interesting item in the cathedral is a relic that was brought to Pisa, is a vase that is said to be one of the jars of Cana. That is one of the vases Jesus used to turn water into wine! Indeed a miracle. 

We did just a quick stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and check that off our Bucket List. We were on our way to Cinque Terre and made the side trip in under a couple hours. 

I skipped around and gave out a ton of high-fives to all of the other tourists who had their hands up in the air to "hold up the tower' as their traveling partners took their picture. Most people laughed and thought it was so funny. As you are there, it just looks like a field of hands in the air, everyone trying to get that perfect picture. 

There isn't much shade in the open square, so we got hot quick. We went to the closest place, a Mcdonald's, to get ice cream. It is a true shame to get desserts (or anything really) from a Mcdonald's while in Italy, but hey, when you have hot and thirsty kids, the closest thing wins. 

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