Pisa!

Housing three world-acclaimed renaissance architectural masterpieces, the Piazza del Duomo, affectionately known as Cathedral Square, graces the heart of Pisa, Italy. The serene square reminded me of a quaint park, barring the four ornate and imposing buildings. This magnificent complex includes the Cathedral of Pisa (Duomo), the Baptistery of Saint John (Battistero di San Giovanni), the Cemetery (Camposanto Monumentale) and the piece de résistance, the Bell Tower (the Leaning Tower of Pisa).

Another name for this marvelous walled area is the Square of Miracles, or Piazza dei Miracoli. Exploring the grounds and buildings leaves little question why Gabriele de Annunzio, an Italian writer, chose such a description. We visited Piazza del Duomo on a glorious day. People filled the lush green grass of the park as they frolicked, picnicked and one group of four struggled to open a bottle of wine without the benefit of a corkscrew. All the while, masses of tourists jockeyed for positions to take pictures of them pushing or supporting the famed Leaning Tower. I busied myself thinking of a run. An outer road circled the square. I took it to be plus or minus one half mile around. What a lovely place to jog.

A word or two of caution--most tour busses park about three quarters of a mile away from the Piazza del Duomo. This provides an interesting stroll through an Italian neighborhood. Once at the Square, be prepared for fairly aggressive vendors bombarding you with their trinkets. Oddly, one of my more memorable moments came as we left the Square. The previously aggressive venders had piled up in an outdoor café, leaving their wares and hopes of money-making, to catch a few minutes of World Cup action at a television in an outdoor café. Ahh, priorities.

Tom