Pisa

Yes, the Leaning Tower is really leaning (3.97° tilt), and yes, it is truly impressive — along with the cathedral, baptistery, and Camposanto, it forms one of Italy's most harmonious architectural ensembles on the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). All four buildings are made of white Carrara marble and are stunningly beautiful.

But Pisa is more than the tower: The Piazza dei Cavalieri with the Palazzo della Carovana (Giorgio Vasari) is a Renaissance jewel. The promenade along the Arno (Lungarno) with its pastel-colored houses is surprisingly photogenic. And the Keith Haring mural "Tuttomondo" (1989) on the back wall of the Church of Sant'Antonio is an unexpected highlight.

Climbing the tower: 294 steps in a narrow, leaning spiral staircase — a slightly claustrophobic but unique experience. Online booking is mandatory (20 €), only 40 people at a time, time slots every 30 minutes.