I set out early in the morning to avoid the tourists and the lines of people waiting to get in. I paid my 8 euros and started my hike up the narrow, stone, claustraphobic walls of the stairways to the top. There are 463 steps and it is advised if you have asthma or any chronic heart problems to not attempt the climb. They have a half way mark but no place to rest, just an open area where one could lean and pant and catch their breath, but still there are over 200 stairs to go when you get to that point. So you push forward and climb on, and on, and on, and on, until! you reach the top.
So the uncomfortable part of the climb is that some of the "going up" and "going down" pathways cross and the tiny steps you are climbing are soon filled with traffic going in the opposite direction, and you not only cannot catch your breathe because you of course have just dined on your "traditional italian breakfast, cappucino and cornetto" but you want to get this climb over with because there are so many tourists, and you are living here, so you can do this anytime, and why are there so many damn americans doing this? Anyways to my point......Is that the view is sooo completely worth it once you make it to the top!
But you have to remember.....you have to climb down afterwards!
