Il Tirreno Giornale (PISA, Italia, Sunday 26 May 2002 )
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Opening after the sunset had never happened in 9 centuries of history Among the first visitors were delegations of the four Marine Republics Many foreigners in Piazza dei Miracoli for the inaugural evening of the weekend with visits during the extended hours by Luciano Donzella PISA. All of Pisa is like a small "illuminated village" at twilight, a spectacle. As of yesterday, tourists and visitors will enjoy it on the weekend and on the special occasions of summer, and why not Pisans (as there was not one yesterday, apart from the authorities). Pisa last night lit its thousand lights under the admiring eyes of the first group of visitors to the Tower in the "beautiful at night" program. At 8:40 PM the custodians opened the way to 40 people: among these quite a lot of foreign tourists, a group from North Italy, and the delegations from the Marine Republics that today competed in the regata along the course of the Arno. To accompany them, the mayor Paolo Fontanelli, the alderman Bianca Maria Storchi, president of the Primaziale Work, Pierfrancesco Pacini - who have wanted this nighttime opening. Now a few months after the official reopening, with tourists returning to admire one of the "Seven Wonders" from the inside, and with the new system of visits that do not jeopardize the stability of the Tower, those who desire it can climb to the top of the Tower in the evenings of summer until Midnight. To signal the new opening, among others, splendid illumination that daylights the whole run of the long spiral staircase. The nighttime opening has been scheduled only for particular evenings. The next date to mark on the calendar is that of Tuesday 11 June, on occasion of the concert that inaugurates the historical organ "F.lli Serassi" held in the cathedral. Another appointment with the tower by night will be Sunday 16 June, for the Illumination of St. Ranieri, and at night after, the festival of the holy patron. The first weekend with the Tower open at night will be that of Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June. The other evening openings are scheduled for July in the days of Friday 19, Saturday 20; and Friday 26, Saturday 27; and then in August, Friday and Saturday, in all the weekends, 2 and 3, 9 and 10, 16 and 17, 23 and 24, 30 and 31. The cost of the ticket is unchanged, 15 Euro per person. |
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