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PISA TRAVEL DIARIES: Walking Around

June 11, 2015

One of the things that I’m really in awe of in Europe is how old things are – in a good way! They are able to maintain or reconstruct the beautiful structures of the past so that they can still be enjoyed in the present. It helps of course that they do not experience earthquakes and typhoons like we regularly do in the Philippines!

Below are some of the beautiful scenes I photographed as we walked around Pisa, Italy, together with some interesting bits of information that I learned about them. Some buildings I wasn’t able to get the names but they are still beautiful to look at anyway!

Below, that small brown building in the middle of two tall ones is the Italian Bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A., known as BMPS or just MPS. Its history can be traced back to a mount of piety founded in 1472 and founded in its present form in 1624, it is the world’s oldest or second oldest bank, depending on the definition, and the fourth largest Italian commercial and retail bank. Isn’t that amazing! So much history!

Palazzo della Carovana

The Palace of the Convoy was built in 1562–1564 for the headquarters of the Knights of St. Stephen. The name is from the three-year training period for the initiates called “la Carovana”.

The façade is characterized by a complex scheme with sgraffiti representing allegorical figures and zodiacal signs with busts and marble crests. YOu can see sculptures of the Medici Coat of Arms, the Knights, flanked by the allegories of Religion and Justice and upper gallery of busts of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, who were all also the Grand Masters of the Order.

The statue of Cosimo I de’ Medici stands in the middle of Knights’ Square of Pisa in front of Palazzo della Carovana. It has been damaged in the course of time.

Commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinando I in 1596 to celebrate his father as the first Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen. Grand Duke Cosimo in the robes of Grand Master, is subduing a penguin on a pedestal. This symbolizes his domination over the seas. In front, there is a fountain with a shell-shaped basin decorated with two grotesque monsters.

WORLD HERITAGE SITE: THE SQUARE OF MIRACLES

Of course we couldn’t go to Pisa without checking out it’s most famous structure: The Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is located in The Square of Miracles or Piazza dei Miracoli. It is composed of 4 structures:

  1. The Pisa Cathedral
  2. The Pisa Baptistery
  3. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

THE CATHEDRAL OF PISA

This Cathedral square is a World Heritage Site because of the uniqueness of the magnificent group of monuments. The Cathedral of Pisa (Il Duomo di Pisa) is on the right below.

This beautiful Architecture style is medieval architecture in Romanesque style. The first building constructed in the square was the cathedral (right below).

THE BAPTISTERY

The 2nd building in the Square of Miracles, The Baptistery is also called the Pisa Baptistery of St. John or Battistero di San Giovanni. They started construction of this Roman Catholic ecclesiastical building in 1152 and it was finished in 1363. It is the largest baptistery in Italy. 

Galileo was baptized in the baptistery in 1565. It leans 0.6 degrees toward the cathedral.

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

The Tower of Pisa the most interesting bell tower, or campanile in the world. It was the 3 structure built on this square.

It was originally 60 metres tall and until 1990 was leaning at about a 10 degree angle. Now it is 56.67m (tallest portion) and 55,86m (lowest part). It was designed to be perfectly vertical, it started leaning during construction. They started constructing it in 1173 and finished in 1399.

Can you see my 5th month bump? If you look closer you can see I had been crying. I think as a pregnant lady you can get tired and emotional easily so this is totally expected. Don’t expect too do too much when you are on your babymoon. Here are more tips for people going on a babymoon on their 2nd trimester.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa consists of 251 steps to the top and weighs14,500 tonnes. We didn’t even bother going into any of the structures! I was so tired and it was honestly so beautiful just to gaze at the medieval structures at sunset.

Pisa got its name in 600 BC from a Greek word meaning “marshy land.” No wonder several of their structures are also leaning and sinking! Other structures that are also sinking/leaning:

  • Bell tower at the church of St. Michele dei Scalzi
  • Bell tower at the church of St. Nicola.
  • Cathedral of Pisa
  • The Baptistery

CAMPO SANTO

The 4th and last structure in the square is also known as Camposanto Monumentale (monumental cemetery) or Camposanto Vecchio (old cemetery), Campo Santo means “holy field.”

It is called holy fiedl because it is said that the burial ground uses shiploads of sacred soil that was brought back during the 12th Century Crusades from Golgotha, the hill on which Jesus was crucified, so that noble Pisans could rest in holy ground.

The soil was brought back to Pisa from the Third Crusade by the archbishop of Pisa in the 12th century. A legend claims that bodies buried in that ground will rot in just 24 hours.

Sources: Tower of Pisa • Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts • Pisa Baptistery Wiki • Camposanto Monumentale de Pisa • Wikipedia

READ: Other memorable experiences in Florence & Pisa

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Hello! I’m Ayessa, trailing spouse to a diplomat, mama to DiploBaby and DiploDog and founder of Declutter MNL. I love talking about how to achieve a minimaluxe lifestyle one step at a time.

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GOOD TO KNOW GUIDE

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @UNDIPLOMATICWIFE

HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport? We are very lucky th HOW NEAR IS @geneveaeroport?

We are very lucky that the Geneva Airport is very near because it is located 4 km northwest of the city centre. It takes us less than 15mins by car & is easier to get to than airports outside the city.

BUT also means that many of the Geneva residents suffer from AIRCRAFT NOISE POLLUTION. 

In some parts of Geneva, like Vernier, Meyrin, Bellevue, Versoix, etc will have the airplane pass on top of you or very near you. This is something to consider when you are MOVING TO GENEVA & looking for a home.

When we were in @bioparcgeneve recently, it felt like airplane after airplane was going overhead every few mins. The poor animals were screaming each time.

A  report by the European Environment Agency(EEA) in 2017 said that 12% or 73,500 Geneva residents have their hearing disturbed by aircraft noise. Probably the figures have risen with the natural increase population & travel?

“The EEA describes noise as a pervasive pollutant that directly affects the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. Populations exposed to high noise levels can exhibit stress reactions, sleep-stage changes, and clinical symptoms like hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. All of these can contribute to premature mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) reckons that humans exposed to noise levels above 40 decibels at night experience adverse health effects.

Across Europe it is estimated that noise contributed to at least 900,000 additional cases of hypertension in 2011.” - @le_news_ch 

DID YOU KNOW that owners of homes affected by the noise can request for soundproofing to be paid for by GVA? 

Check if your home meets the conditions for FREE SOUNDPROOFING c/o Genève Aéroport here:

https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Geneve-Aeroport/Questions-Reponses-FAQ/Bruit#

SAVE or SHARE this now with someone you know who might be moving to Geneva or is already suffering from aircraft #noisepollution. 

#UDWinGeneva #UDWgenevagoodtoknow #expatingeneva #diplofamily #expatlife #genevaswitzerland #expatingeneva #filipinoingeneva #pinoyingeneva #movingtogeneva #movingtoswitzerland #movingtogeneva #genevaexpats #switzerlandexpatlife #geneva #genevaswitzerland
MERCADONA HAUL Whenever we go to Spain, we love t MERCADONA HAUL

Whenever we go to Spain, we love to go to @mercadona. It might be small but has a good affordable selection. It’s my thrifty Spanish MIL’s favorite.

We were so lucky that we had a @mercadona right beside our hotel Marina Badalona. Very convenient.
Our favorite things to bring home are:

☕️ frozen porras (bigger than churros)

🐑 baby lamb chops (the only lamb I eat coz it’s not malangsa & all you need to do is fry till crispy in olive oil with S&P) it’s called Chuletas Cabrito but TD calls it lechal 

🐽 chicharon or crispy pork rinds

🥔 Homemade potato chips. The best potato chips for me are from Spain. I don’t know how it’s so much yummier! The olive oil???

🎣 canned Sardines & tuna for me and Yaya B

TIPS:

🧊 For frozen items, we usually ask the hotel before we buy if they can put it in their freezer until we fly.

✍️ I usually bring different sizes ZIPLOCK BAGS, MASKING TAPE & MARKER when we travel so we can put everything in, label with our name and room number.

📸 then I take a photo so we can just show it to the staff and they can easily find it in their freezer.

✈️ When it’s time to pack, I placed our beach towels around the frozen packages coz I know they will SWEAT & I don’t want our other things to get wet 💦 

What  grocery do you usually like to shop for when in Spain? Where do you buy them?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries #udwtraveltips #udwtraveltip #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW C FREE GEAR RENTAL @boxup.app + OUTDOOR GYM at ISW Calisthenics Park 

📍Chem. des Tuileries 140, 1293 Bellevue

After the lovely BIOPARC we headed across to this chill park with ample PARKING that had so many things for kids & anyone who wants to move & work out:

⚽️ The kids wanted to kick around a football so we borrowed a ball from @boxup.app (they also have pumps, 🏓, 🏐, 🏀, etc) just download the app & turn on your Bluetooth & follow instructions! Return after 3hrs.

👟 Outdoor gym - this was a huge hit with the kids

⚽️ football - this too!

🏀 basketball court

🏓 Ping-pong 

🏐 Beach volleyball court

🤸🏻 Monkey bars

🛝 small playground

Thanks for the wonderful afternoon guys @lidia_otilia_botezatu! 
How lucky are we to have these beautiful, clean open spaces. And the free rental gear is AMAZING! so convenient.

This is in Geneva, about 15mins drive from where we live.

SAVE THIS on your list of PARKS to visit!

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. It’s not as close as the bioparc but bring earplugs/earphones if you are sensitive.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
BIOPARC GENÈVE Yesterday was a holiday in Switze BIOPARC GENÈVE

Yesterday was a holiday in Switzerland (except for Geneva). It was raining & miserable so I wanted to take @diplobaby out for a few hours. Thankfully midafternoon it stopped raining.

We met with our friends @lidia_otilia_botezatu in @bioparcgeneve and had a lovely time in this volunteer run zoo.

TIPS💡

🆓 It’s free for families on your FIRST visit!

🦢 you walk inside animal enclosures so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty/stepping on poop. We wore boots & happy we did

🅿️ there’s parking inside on wood chips, if it’s full there’s another pavement parking (free up to 4hrs) across the roundabout 

🦔 Do not feed or touch the animals no matter how cute they are

🗺️ There are 2 routes (purple & blue) and 1-1.5hrs #diplshould be enough 

❎ Park closes at 4pm

SAVE THIS NOW if your looking for a fun & not too you can do in well und2hrs. It’s nice that you can go inside unlike most zoos so it’s quite unique.

⚠️ WARNING

it’s in the airplane path so there will be loud noise from that. @diplobaby who is super noise sensitive did not mind as much as I thought he would because he was so entertained by the animals.

#udwingeneva #genevaswitzerland #genevaforkids #diplobaby #diplofamily #filipinotravelblogger #pinayblogger #diplowife #diplomatswife #filipinoabroad #tdwtraveldiaries #takekidseverywhere #travelblogger #travelvlogger #travelvloggerph #filipinoblogger #filipinablogger #filipinavlogger #filipinoineurope #welltraveledkids #expatwoman #pinayblogger #familytravelblog
MARINA BADALONA HOTEL At first we were going to MARINA BADALONA HOTEL 

At first we were going to stay in the heart of Barcelona, where we stayed 8 years ago (I didn’t even know that @diplobaby was already in my tummy at 2 weeks old) but the “hotel” is now expensive with no amenities & small rooms. So TD found a hotel in #badalona - a 20min taxi ride from Barcelona city center - that was so fabulous & slightly less expensive.

SAVE THIS NOW for future trips to Barcelona

WHY I LOVED marinabadalona
🤍 All white interiors was so beautiful & calming
🤍 Gorgeous view of the Marina 
🤍 Everything was so aesthetic, even where you tap your card to enter the room
🤍 Massive bed
🤍 Electric curtains
🤍 Lots of closet space & hangers
🤍 2 TVs
🤍 Refrigerator
🤍 White/cream Nespresso & kettle
🤍 Architecture & interior design is sooooo me!
🤍 Small rooftop pool with unbelievable views (need to do a separate post)
🤍 5min walk to the beach
🤍 Gorg esplanade
🤍 Yummy restos beside
🤍 Mercadona right beside - so convenient!

FEW RECOS FOR IMPROVEMENT:
✌️ Loved the textured wall paper, but it’s difficult to keep clean inside the bathroom
✌️ The bathroom surface area was a bit small & our stuff kept falling off the sink
✌️ Not a single chair in the family room so when we had room service we had to eat standing
✌️ No salt & pepper with room service so we called to ask & were told we would be charged for them taking it up. After TD clarified that there was no S&P with our meal, they said they would bring it up. The person brought a small bowl of of salt & pepper combined. The salt was for DiploBaby’s salmon, but he can’t eat pepper, I wanted both for my pesto. Had to run down in my slippers & the resto staff were very apologetic coz who serves a mixed S&P ever? They gave me individually packaged ones which I really appreciated.
✌️ Since the hotel has a pool & is by the beach, I wish there was a place to hang & dry swim suits. Our suits & watershoes did not dry in the tub.

All in all the value we got from staying in this hotel was so high compared to a more expensive hotel in Barcelona. No hotel stay is perfect.

Now, would I stay there again? YES PLEASE! Would you?

#udwinbarcelona #udwinbadalona #udwtraveldiaries
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