Informal visit to Pisa
March 27, 2012
Pisa is a most attractive university city, with many fine buildings including the famous leaning tower, which has been recently restored and cleaned and is once more open to the public.
It is surprisingly non-touristy once you get away from the tower area, and there are a number of good restaurants, museums and galleries, as well as pleasant walks in the mainly pedestrianised old town and along the banks of the river Arno.
It is 25mins by train from Lucca, and one hour by train from Florence. There are daily, low-cost flights from Stanstead and Luton*, and eating out is very reasonably priced. We have had a home there for 4 years now, and love it!
An added attraction in March is that the Pisan’s celebrate their new year on 24/25 March, with much fun and pageantry.
The program will be as follows:
Tuesday 27th March Fly to Pisa; check into hotel; explore Pisa on foot; informal dinner.
Wednesday 28th March Optional train tour to Lucca, with time to explore Lucca on foot, lunch at an excellent Chaîne restaurant (specialising in game), returning to Pisa mid afternoon. Informal Dinner in Pisa.
Thursday 29th March Return to UK, or extend your visit by a day or two to allow a visit to Florence (1 hour by train, 1-2 trains per hour, 12 euros return!)
I will be happy to co-ordinate the visit, book restaurants and train tickets, and act as guide in Pisa, Lucca (and Florence if required). You will be responsible for making your own hotel reservations and flight bookings (see below). Food and drink costs will be on a “pay-as-you-go” basis at restaurants that we know and trust.
There are lots of hotels in Pisa, and you might like to consider:
Hotel Leonardo – A 3 star hotel in a quiet location in the pedestrianised part of the old town, convenient for the restaurants we will use. About 10 mins walk from the station. £101
NH Cavalieri – A modern 4 star hotel opposite the station, 5 minutes walk from where we live, convenient for the main shopping street (Corso Italia) and about 10 mins from the restaurants. £156
Relais del’Orologio – 5 star hotel in the old town, convenient for restaurants and the tower. £200
(Prices for two nights in a double room, see www.booking.com/Pisa-hotels )
Suggested flights are as follows (see www.ryanair.com and www.easyjet.com )
Tues 27 Mar Ryanair from Stanstead, dep 11.20 arr 14.30 Fare £67 one way (or Easyjet from Luton) dep 12.35 arr 15.50 Fare £28 one way
Thu 29 Mar Ryanair to Stanstead dep 14.55 arr 16.15 Fare £58 one way (or Easyjet to Luton) dep 20.45 arr 22.05 Fare £26 one way
I suggest you book your flights and hotel as soon as possible, to take advantage of these low prices, and because they may get busy due to the Pisan New Year on 25th March.
For more information contact Chris Lewis, Acting Bailli, at chrismlewis@btopenworld.com
