The iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa attracts over 5 million tourists a year, for good reason. It’s almost always thronging with people, which is why I was so surprised by this hidden gem: a terraced café with affordable drinks, spectacular views of the Tower, and barely any other visitors!
Once you’ve taken your photo holding up the Tower (because, let’s be honest, it’s got to be done), you’ll be wanting a quaint café – somewhere to drink fine Italian coffee and relax after a busy day of sightseeing. While most places here are overcrowded, there’s one that never seems to be: a discreet terrace with spectacular second-floor views of the Piazza. This venue is a gem hidden in plain sight; the perfect place to grab a relaxing beer or coffee, and watch the sun set on the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa is a beautiful city in Tuscany, central Italy, built on the banks of the Arno near where it feeds the Ligurian Sea. It has an incredibly rich religious and cultural history, and it’s teeming with impressive architecture, though it’s most renowned for its Tower.
Begun in the 12th and finished in the 14th century – interrupted by continuous conflict between Pisa, Genoa, Lucca, and Florence – the Leaning Tower of Pisa is world-famous for its iconic tilt. This is caused by the unstable ground on which it was built. By 1990, this tilt had grown to 5.5 degrees, however extensive remedial work was conducted, reducing this to just under 4 degrees, and making it safe for visitors. Walking the 296 steps curling round the inside, you can really feel just how much it leans!
The top floor (the seventh) has seven bells, one for each note of the musical major scale. It’s believed that Galileo Galilei conducted physics experiments here. In the late 16th century, he simultaneously dropped different cannonballs from this floor to demonstrate the law of free fall: that speed of descent is independent of mass (please don’t attempt this on your visit!)
The best place to watch the sunset at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The best place to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, while avoiding all the crowds, is the café Bistrot dell’Opera. Tucked right there in the shadow of the Tower, this surprising hidden gem has an open terrace with incredible views and plenty of tables. It’s the perfect quiet sunset spot for the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
How to find the hidden Leaning Tower sunset spot?
The Bistrot dell’Opera isn’t immediately obvious. To find this hidden gem, head to the southeast corner of the Tower, where Via Santa Maria joins the Piazza Arcievscovado. Here you’ll find the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Go inside and take the staircase on the left up to the second floor, and you’ll quickly be seated at one of the tables on their terrace, with its stunning views of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Credit to my sister who found this place during our trip!)
How much does the Bistrot dell’Opera cost?
Entrance to the Bistrot dell’Opera is free. Also, the drink prices were surprisingly reasonable considering the proximity to the Tower. While I can’t vouch for the food as we didn’t eat there, the coffee was very good (it IS Italy, after all), and it was a great place to have an evening beer or two and watch the sun set over the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The coffee was around 3 Euros, and a bottle of beer cost around 6 Euros.
What are the opening times for the Bistrot dell’Opera, and do you need to book?
There’s no need to book the Bistrot dell’Opera. One of the days we visited, we asked about booking a table for sunset that evening, and they told us it wouldn’t be necessary (they were right). We visited in Spring, but by all accounts it’s somehow remained one of Pisa’s best-kept secrets year-round.
At the time of visiting, the Bistrot dell’Opera opened at 9am each day and closed at 7.45pm – perfect for a Spring sunset.
The Gossamer Traveller 