http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30049 The tradition dates back to the glory days of Pisa as a mighty maritime republic and, in an Indiana Jones moment, the new year is said to begin when a sunbeam breaks through a specially placed window in the cathedral, lighting up a precisely positioned marble egg.

Cue lots of kissing, medieval costumes, marching, flag throwing and carousing. The main venue is clearly the cathedral, framed as it is by the Leaning Tower and the splendid baptistry in the 'Field Of Miracles'.

The tower, alongside the cathedral, finally free of all scaffolding and gleamingly white as of early 2011, may be ascended and you can book at the official site or use the second site below if you'd like to book for a date further in the future than allowed on the official site.


boxoffice.opapisa.it/Torre/first.jsp
www.tickitaly.com/tickets/leaning-tower-pisa-tickets.php]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30049 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27321
Mara, Franco and family gave us a wonderfully warm welcome and where extremely helpful throughout, including a traditional Tuscan meal on arrival and - throughout the week - an endless supply of the most gorgeous peaches, apricots and tomatoes, all grown on the estate.

The apartment was - I imagine - typically Tuscan. Clean, cool and practical with a nice shady terrace. It's located on a quiet road, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, and set quite high with beautiful views across to distant villages. There's wildlife aplenty - the morning chorus is incredible!

We were worried about taking our daughter somewhere so seemingly remote, as she's used to play parks on-tap, but we needn't have. The grounds of the property and the walks around it were more than enough to keep her occupied... and then there's the pool!

The surrounding villages are a treasure-trove. So much so that we abandoned our plans to make trips to Florence, Sienna and San Gimignano this time round, and settled for the short 30-minute trip to Volterra (incredibly beautiful) and a trip over the mountains to the coast. The rest of the time we just explored the nearby villages (and they all had play parks, so our daughter was happy!).

Then there's the restaurants, the wine... but everyone knows this about Tuscany.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27321 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26399 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26399 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26317 The position of the farmhouse is lovely over looking the Pisan hills with some great sunrises and sunsets down by the pool, where we spent a lot of our time!!
We hope to return next year because the farmhouse gave a good base to see places of interest as well as being pretty secluded. We loved all the local villages and visited San Gimignano and Volterra.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26317 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25381 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25381 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23649 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23649 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23203
You're right on a main shopping street and above an amazing gelataria - nothing better than late night ice cream! There's also a bar next door if you don't have such a sweet tooth.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23203 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20719
Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, high up on a mountainside amidst an ancient olive grove and with stunning views of the surrounding countryside as far as Pisa and the coast beyond, the two self-contained farmhouses at La Lucertola are perfect – large, comfortable and extremely well-equipped. The setting is exquisite and as a bonus, there is the lovingly nurtured organic garden - the produce is available to pick and use, free of charge, by the guests! This proved a particular favourite with our children, who loved going out to pick the salad and herbs for our meals and we returned home with all good intentions of recreating our own Tuscan vegetable patch!

Being less than a 30 minute drive from Pisa airport and with highly competitive rates available on Ryanair flights from London Stansted, La Lucertola is ideally located as a base from which to explore the delights of Tuscany (if you actually choose to leave the peace and tranquillity of your Tuscan home that is).

Living in their own separate farmhouse on site, Luisa and Coz are the perfect hosts and I would like to thank them for allowing us to spend a little time sharing their little piece of Tuscan heaven, where even the rain storms hold a certain charm; it’s very easy to understand why they chose to swap their hectic London life for this! Check out their excellent website for more details.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20719 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20692 The cottages have every modern facility you need, including a swimming pool.
The owners live on site and provide a friendly information facility and comprehensive support.
An absolutely brilliant location.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20692 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18741
With tired feet and an afternoon plane to catch, we decided to spend our final day indulging ourselves at the local Spa, Bagni di Pisa. It is located in the sumptious converted residence of the (ex) Duke of Tuscany.

We took a taxi from Pisa to the Bagni di Pisa spa (€20), had a soak in their warm water thermal pool, followed by a 'Thai foot massage' for me and a facial treatment 'Silk Thermal' for my friend.

Upon arrival we were given bathrobes and plastic shoes to wear.

We found the place welcoming and atmospheric, the staff are professional and definitely know their stuff. We left feeling fantastic, soothed and relaxed. A nice way to end our holiday.

We then took the train back to Pisa (the train station is a five-minute walk from the spa - €1.60 each, 9 minutes' journey), changed trains in Pisa Centrale for the five-minute journey to the airport, Pisa Aeroporto, for our late afternoon flight home.

Note: Bagni di Pisa also is a four-star hotel.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18741 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17485 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17485 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11739 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11739 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10287 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10287 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9690
Staying here for a night to get your flight or stop off before you hit the rest of Tuscany can be a good diea. It will leave you refreshed and ready to see all the wonders this part of Italy has to offer.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9690 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8635
The name of the building comes from the coffee rooms of Cafe dell’Ussero, historic meeting place founded on 1st September 1775. The cafe was previously an inn, the Locanda dell’Ussero. Famous and distinguished guests have been - Carlo Goldoni in 1744, Giacomo Casanova in 1760, Count Alfieri in 1785, Filippo Mazzei in 1792, Gioacchino Belli in 1829 and John Ruskin in 1840.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8635 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6615 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6615 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4582 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4582 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4576 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4576 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4575 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4575