A date with the Citadel

31^st december 2004, my hubby and I landed on a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, called Pisa owning one of then world’s greatest wonder, the Tower of Pisa. The traditional city to our surprise had already embraced total darkness and inertia at 9 pm. Enthusiasts by nature, we both decided to have a first glimpse of leaning tower, in the nights’ backdrop. After a flustered walk in foreign land we reached the coveted landmark. To our astonishment it was pitch dark and one of world’s wonder stood like any other building in town, with no lights to adorn and was hardly visible from distance. There was sheer air of austerity. We and few other tourists made our ways back to accommodation sensing the worth of day light.

We had an uplifted mood brought in by the welcoming weather the next morning. It was sunny yet a crispy chillness hidden in the atmosphere. This time when we reached Campo dei Miracoli (Field of miracles), the cathedral and leaning tower of Pisa was flooded with exuberant tourists.

An affable elderly Italian couple dressed in long fur coats complemented my wearing a sleeveless cardigan in their cold weather. We coerced to explain that Italian winter was synonymous to British spring. We purchased entry tickets and started climbing the slippery, narrow, spiral staircase of the tower. The staircase became more steep and narrow as we ascended further. Because of the history of vulnerable construction of the architecture, we were allowed to climb in batches with stipulated number of people in each group. The next batch cannot be allowed to venture unless each and every member from previous batch had exited from the tower.

The Tower of Pisa is not a magnificent structure when compared to Eiffel Tower, but for people with acrophobia like me, it was still an enormous deal. When the time came to climb down the staircase I bluntly refused to co-operate with my hubby. All 30 from our batch except me and my hubby were out of the building. The next group was down waiting for our arrival. Bewildered by the missing people, couple of security guards climbed up the tower just to find me refusing with all adamancy to step down the tower. I was then safely escorted down with two security guards in the front and my hubby following me. On exiting the tower, I became cynosure for people and security guards waiting outside with smirk and laughter. I was more embarrassed than relieved. I was soon diverted by a cute couple who seemed to challenge the statement “Paris and Switzerland – the ultimate romantic destinations on earth”. The couple got married in Cathedral of Pisa and they were found walking, running, kissing and dancing on the lawn in front of the cathedral for their wedding album. Many of the tourists including self became unofficial videographers for the wedding. There was a feel-good atmosphere and everyone was infected by the aura.

It was one memorable day in Pisa with the historic scary tower, the ancient yet made romantic cathedral and the Fountain with Angels. Anyone suffering December in cold regions are welcome to visit this warm place and its people with warm heart.

Copyright © Sivi 28-Aug-2009