I took the ‘cheapest’ £24 flight from Birmingham Airport and spent a romantic day in an underrated city

When it came time to book our summer vacation this year, my husband and I were still undecided. He wanted a city break somewhere with lots to do, but I liked something more scenic and slower. So we made a deal.

We were going to book the cheapest flight we could find online and figure out the rest of the trip later. Feeling as spontaneous as those people who buy mystery breaks and arrive at the airport not knowing where they’re flying, we pulled up the Google Flights map, entered the dates we wanted, and crossed our fingers for a spectacular spot .

We could have hit Toulouse in France for £45 each, Dublin for £30 or Barcelona for £60, but an underrated destination came even cheaper. Outbound flights to Pisa were just £24 each way with Ryanair. It was decided.

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Our holiday turned into a complete interrailing trip around Tuscany, starting with 24 hours in the home of that world famous tower. We landed in the late afternoon and after a super quick train ride from the airport, we made the short journey to our hotel on foot.

Since many of the travel forums we had found online recommended that we spend no more than a day in Pisa, we weren’t expecting much – where to have dinner, see the Leaning Tower and rest our heads before to pass to Florence. the next day. But the city was beautiful.

Before we got to the hotel, we had seen a small Gothic church (Santa Maria della Spina) that seemed out of place on the banks of the Arno, walked along the river and watched the sunset behind the Ponte di Mezzo. The nice guy who visited us told us that Piazza dei Miracoli was only a few minutes walk away, so we had a look at the Leaning Tower lit up in the evening before dinner.

It looked even more impressive than in the pictures and I didn’t know there were other incredible buildings in the same square. Besides, the place was almost empty. There were no crowds of tourists after dark – just a few people taking pictures while no one was watching and couples walking their dogs.

We walked around the yard, then headed back to the hotel to find somewhere to eat. The charming streets were lined with restaurants and diners eating alfresco. Some were offering dinner deals – a pizza with a glass of Aperol Spritz for €15.

We ended up having pasta and my creamy truffle ravioli was some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had. We spent the rest of the night in the same place, sipping wine and chatting while other couples passed by enjoying their gelatos late into the night.

The next morning, the same streets looked unrecognizable, the buildings now glowing varying shades of yellow in the sunlight. After a breakfast of cornetto con cremas and cappuccinos, we set off to explore as much of the city as we could before our train to Florence.

We went back to the old Duomo Square to take a selfie with the tower, did a bit of shopping along the narrow streets of Borgo Stretto – a medieval quarter which is considered the center of Pisa and marveled at the historic buildings in the Piazza dei Cavalieri. We passed through a small park by the river which was full of colorful plants, then we stopped for another cappuccino at the oldest cafe in Pisa, Palazzo Agostini or dell’Ussero.

When it was time to leave, it felt too soon. You hear a lot about Paris and Venice being the most romantic cities in the world, but Pisa has to be up there.

There is just something magical about wandering aimlessly through beautiful streets, talking about nothing over a good coffee in intimate cafes, sharing a bottle of good wine at dinner and watching the sun sink behind the Arno River. Our 24 hours in Pisa was a whirlwind love story and we left the city feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

You can book direct flights from Birmingham Airport to Pisa from just £23.59 one way. Search for flight deals on the Ryanair website or compare prices from different airlines via Skyscanner or Google Flights. If you’re looking to upgrade your luggage for your next trip, luxury luggage brand Antler is offering 10% off its entire range of bags when you subscribe via its website.