The last time I visited Tuscany, I only had a day and I had to choose between a wonderful wine tour or visiting Florence and Pisa. After very little deliberation (’cause I like my Chianti Classico), I chose the wine tour and had a fabulous time.
But, I did miss my opportunity to see Il Duomo and it’s famous leaning bell tower. I never got my chance to take the kitschy “holding up the tower” photo. Alas, as a US resident, I now have my chance for that photo without having to travel back to Italy or fighting the crowds that swamp Il Duomo grounds each and every day.
In the small Chicago suburb of Niles, Illinois, a factory owner built a replica of the Pisa tower to hide and beautify a water tower. Completed in 1934, this version is about 1/2 the height of the famous one in Italy. The Niles tower is not open to the public, but it does contain 7 bells, tuned to musical scale, just like the one in Pisa.
Not known yet: are there any decent wineries near by?
Those who chose Illinois over Italy before the hint:
And after the hint: