The last stop before we returned to Florence was its rival down river, Pisa. One of the most recognizable sites in all of Italy proved to be a real kid pleaser. We spent a few hours just lounging on the perfectly manicured lawns of the Campo Dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) that includes the Duomo, Bell Tower (Leaning Tower), Bapistery (largest in Italy), and Camposanto Cemetery. After a quick break back at the hotel, it was time for Luminaria. We happen to catch Pisa on the eve of the festival celebrating their patron saint, San Ranieri. Each city in Italy seems to celebrate their own patron saint with a huge festival, in fact we'll catch Florence's version next week. This festival dates back to 1688 and turns Pisa into a fairy tale setting. Every building along the river receives a framework to highlight its architectural details that is then loaded with small candles. Then at 9pm they light over 70,000 candles creating a beautiful scene. The only problem was, it felt like everyone in Italy had come, as we tried to make our way down the street. After a quick gelato stop it was time for the fireworks. The kids going to bed at or after midnight sure seems like a regular thing these days, but that’s Italian!
This last photo is taken in front of the Universita di Pisa (University of Pisa). It is one of the oldest in Europe running continuously since 1343, although it's law department has roots back to the 11th century. One of it's more famous (and controversial) professors was Galileo Galilei, while more recently Andrea Bocelli the singer was a graduate. The statue in front is our old friend Cosimo from Florence.
