Leaning Tower of Pisa and Cathedral Entry Ticket Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the cathedral and one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. Construction began in the late twelfth century and lasted about 199 years in three stages. The soft ground beneath the tower began to give way while it was still being built, and builders adjusted the upper floors to compensate, which is why the tower has a slight curve as well as a lean.

Climbing the tower is the reason most people book Leaning Tower of Pisa tickets. The staircase has 297 steps and you go up in small groups at your reserved time, arriving promptly because late arrivals cannot be accommodated. From the top you look across the marble square, the cathedral roof and the rooftops of Pisa to the hills. Tower access is for ages 8 and over, and visitors aged 8 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Pisa Cathedral and the Piazza dei Miracoli

Pisa Cathedral was begun in 1064 and is a masterpiece of Pisan Romanesque style, its facade built in layers of white and grey marble arcades. Inside, look for the carved pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, the gilded ceiling and the great mosaic in the apse. A story tells that Galileo formed his ideas about the pendulum while watching a swinging lamp in this church, although historians debate the details.

The cathedral, tower, Baptistery and Camposanto together form the Piazza dei Miracoli, also called Piazza del Duomo, which UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Modest dress is required for cathedral entry, so cover your shoulders and knees. Both options include the cathedral, and your digital audio guide explains the main works as you walk around.

The Baptistery, Camposanto and museums in the complete ticket

The complete ticket, which is the default option, opens the other monuments of the square. The Baptistery is the largest in Italy, a round building whose acoustics are famous: staff often sing a short phrase under the dome so that visitors can hear the echo. Its pulpit, carved by Nicola Pisano, is a landmark of medieval sculpture.

The Camposanto is the cloistered cemetery beside the cathedral, with frescoes and sarcophagi, and the Sinopie Museum shows the red-brown preparatory drawings once hidden under the frescoes. The Opera del Duomo Museum holds original sculptures and treasures from the cathedral. If you are asking how to visit all the monuments of Pisa, this one ticket lets you move between the sites freely during opening hours.

Getting there, timing and how to plan the visit

The square is about a twenty-minute walk from Pisa Centrale station, or a short bus ride, and a short train or shuttle ride from Pisa's Galileo Galilei airport. Many visitors combine Pisa with Florence as a day trip. Your tower slot is fixed, so arrive at the square early, and note that your entry time may shift by up to one hour depending on availability.

Large bags, luggage and metal objects are not allowed in the tower; use the cloakroom about eighty metres from the entrance, at 21 Piazza del Duomo. Only the original, unaltered ticket, digital or printed, is valid. Opening hours change by season, so check the current times before your visit. Plan about one hour for the tower and cathedral, or three to four hours for the complete ticket.