Leaning Tower of Pisa: where is it located and why is it tilted? Leaning Tower of Pisa: tour, photos and history Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted

The Leaning Tower of Pisa became famous throughout the world due to its tilt relative to the vertical axis. This structure is also called the leaning tower. For 800 years now it has been leaning more and more.

Some believe that the slope was originally intended by the architect, others think that the falling effect developed over time. Let's find out together why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is falling, who created it, and why it has not yet collapsed.

For a long time it was believed that the architect Bonnano Pisano created the tower tilted already in the drawings, and the fact that it is now falling was intended. However, modern scientists have precisely established that the structure began to tilt over time, and this, not that it was intended, but generally plunged the author into shock.

The foundation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is laid to a depth of three meters, despite the fact that the soft soil of the area requires deeper immersion into the ground. In this regard, already at the beginning of construction, a deviation of the structure from the vertical was noticed.

At the beginning of construction, the tower tilted to the north, and then its tilt switched to the opposite side - to the south, and today it remains the same direction. For some time, the structure was even curved so that it resembled a banana in shape.

In the modern world there is no longer any doubt about why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted. The reason is that Bonnano Pisano's original design was flawed.

Facts about the Leaning Tower of Pisa

According to scientists, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has not fallen since 2008. And its angle of inclination is now 3° 54′ degrees.
Construction of the tower took 200 years, with two long interruptions - the first due to the discovery of the tilt, the second due to the fall of Pisa in the battle with Genoa.
At the beginning of construction, the Leaning Tower of Pisa fell to the north, and then began to tilt to the south. Since its completion, the tower has tilted southward by 1 millimeter per year.
The global question - why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted - has been reliably resolved. This was due to a mistake by Bonnano Pisano, who created the wrong foundation for such soil.
The tower is often restored and improved, allowing it to survive to this day.
Physicist Galileo Galilei conducted experiments by dropping objects of varying weights from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa to determine the characteristics of the fall. This experiment was published in many physics textbooks. However, this point is not specified in the scientist’s biography. Therefore, this fact is not reliable enough.

Why the Leaning Tower of Pisa hasn't fallen yet

The modern angle of the tower is approximately 3° 54′ degrees. Every year it deviates south by 1 millimeter. If no restoration had been carried out on the structure, it would have collapsed long ago.

The question of why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted has become secondary compared to the problem of its restoration. The best way to strengthen the structure would be to install external frames. However, this would undoubtedly spoil the view of the famous landmark.

In the 20th century, a heavy lead counterweight was installed on the northern part of the foundation. Since the tower leans to the south, this helped stop the fall and even level it a little. The next step was to remove a small layer of soil from under the northern part of the foundation, which allowed the tower to tilt even further to the north.

In 2008, it was announced that the tower had stopped falling to the south, and although it was still tilted, it stood stable.

History of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

On August 9, 1173, construction began on the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa, designed by Bonnano Pisano. In 1178, when three floors were built, it was noticed that the tower was being built to the north.

Construction was suspended for a hundred years, and continued only in 1272 under the leadership of Giovanni di Simone. The design was modified to take into account the slope of the tower, and the height of the ceilings in the north was increased to compensate for the slope. However, this did not give any result.

In 1284, construction was again suspended due to the fall of Pisa in the naval battle of Meloria to the Most Serene Republic of Genoa.

Before you begin to answer the question of why the Leaning Tower of Pisa does not fall, you must first find out what was the reason for its fall? As a result of a number of examinations, it was found that it was caused by a discrepancy between the foundation and the external building structure. The architect, when calculating the foundation, did not take into account the characteristics of the soil, which turned out to be too soft. This was the main reason that when laying the third floor, the entire structure began to lean in one direction.

This process lasted until 2008, and threatened to end very sadly for the tower if not for work to strengthen the foundation, which, paradoxically, continues in our time. Only in the nineties, a number of engineering works were carried out aimed at strengthening the southern part of the tower. It was in this direction that she was leaning. The northern part was strengthened with heavy blocks. The idea of installing external support elements was abandoned, as this would disrupt the overall architectural style of the structure.

Thanks to the work carried out, the position of the tower has stabilized. She stopped sagging and leaning to her side. The counterweights installed on its northern side were removed. After 2001, additional work was carried out, as a result of which the inclination of the tower became slightly less, and stopped at 3 degrees 54 minutes. At the moment the situation remains quite stable. The vertical axis of the tower passes through its center of gravity and rests against the base. With a greater inclination, it would go beyond its limits, which would lead to the fall of the entire structure.

Although, to be honest, risks still remain. They are due to the following reasons:

Possible subsidence of masonry on the south side due to increased load on it.
Subsidence of the soil at the base of the foundation.

For this reason, work to strengthen the foundation does not stop to this day. During these events, the tower is closed to tourists. They are not allowed onto the observation deck to avoid accidents. Today the tower continues to tilt, but this tilt does not exceed one millimeter during the year. And yet, it is there. If nothing is done, humanity may lose the UNESCO cultural heritage.

Now we know the reason why the Leaning Tower of Pisa does not fall. She is simply not allowed to do this. And the point is not at all a desire to correct the architect’s mistake, but a desire to preserve this cultural monument for future generations.

As for scientists, they are very optimistic. According to their calculations, the Leaning Tower of Pisa may still fall, but given the current attitude towards it, this will happen centuries, so in five, not earlier.

If you talk about Italy, and in particular about the city of Pisa, then the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is one of the most famous historical monuments of our time, regardless of what part of the planet you live in. Why is she so famous? There is no big secret about this - the fact is that it stands at an angle to the ground. It even gives the impression that the Tower is falling. But it is precisely this drawback of the Tower that attracts tourists from all over the world to Pisa. Perhaps if the Tower had not stood crookedly, no one would have wanted to look at it. Surely you will be interested to know that the Tower itself is not a separate structure. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of the architect's idea; it is only one element from a whole architectural collection. The tower in this Italian courtyard is not just a decoration, it is actually a huge bell tower, or as it was called - Campanella (translated from Italian it means “bell”). So, what is included in the so-called Pisa ensemble. The Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta), the gloomy cemetery of Campo Santo, the Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovann) and, of course, the square itself where all these objects have found their home - Piazza dei Miracoli are comfortably located here. (Square of Miracles). And the bell tower itself - it is located a little further away behind the north-eastern corner of the cathedral. Taken together, all these objects are rightfully considered one of the best architectural creations in all of Italy.

“A protracted miracle” - this is what local Italians sometimes jokingly call their main attraction in Pisa. The fact is that the Tower is falling and falling, but it still won’t fall - and all this has been going on for 8 long years. The fall continued to the present day, its deviation increased annually by 1 millimeter, and in total, from the beginning to the end of construction work, the tower tilted by 5 meters. This persistent Campanella is not a timid person. The structure even survived an earthquake, but the Tower still stands and today is open to visits by thousands of crowds of tourists. Everyone, of course, tries to take an original photo with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

From the history of the construction of the Tower

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is definitely a symbol of the entire city. And it became such from the very moment of its construction. And oh, so many years have passed since then. Construction of the structure began in August 1173. The city leadership looked for a nice green meadow on the outskirts, and it was here that the first brick of the bell tower was laid. 200 years - that’s how long it took to build the entire Tower. Of course, for various reasons the work was suspended, but in total this is the period of time. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in 1370.

Bonanno Pisano - according to historians who are in charge of this issue, it was this person who could be the original architect and author of the entire project. Unfortunately, this information has not reached us exactly until today, so this is only a basic theory. Was the Tower intentionally built at an angle, or was it all a flaw in the architect's plan? Today it is unlikely that this fact will be established reliably, but the second option is more likely to be true. Under the influence of soil displacement, the tower began to tilt. The architect did not take into account that this could happen, and as a result we have a tilted symbol of the city of Pisa.

The first floor was built, the colonnade was completed, and then the entire structure even then began to slope to the south. At the time the work began, it was only 4 centimeters - who would have noticed! But attention was paid, and construction was stopped for 100 years. In 1275, the Tower tilted by 50 centimeters, and then the builders decided to literally level this situation and place it vertically, as intended. When constructing all subsequent floors of the Tower, the height was increased by 10 centimeters on the inclined side. So within 5 floors it was planned to correct the situation. However, it soon became clear that this move was not very helpful. As a result, the Tower was 4 floors lower than planned.

Architectural features of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in the Romano-Pisan style, traditional for its times. This style has always been able to amaze its admirers with the grace of its lines and discreet beauty. All tiers of the erected and completed Tower today are 58 meters high and have a small tail of 36 centimeters. In the highest part it reaches a height of 56 meters, and the height in the lowest part is 55 meters and 90 centimeters.

The diameter of the entire bell tower at the base is 15 meters and has the shape of a cylinder. The walls at the base are 5 meters thick, and closer to the top they are 2 and a half meters thick. To climb to the top to the observation deck you need to overcome 294 steps, and then you will have a beautiful view of the Field of Miracles and the beautiful nearby surroundings.

The entire structure is built of stone, while the outside is covered with light gray and white marble. The entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is decorated with a large bas-relief and images of mythical animals. The six floors of the Tower are furnished with decorative Romanesque arches, which in their grace are very similar to Byzantine architecture. At the crown of the tilted creation there is a belfry, in which there are slots for seven bells. The weight of the bells in the Leaning Tower of Pisa varies from 300 kilograms to 3.5 tons. Today there are more bells, as new ones were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. The interesting thing is that today all these bells are working and delight locals and tourists with their ringing.

Bells of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

From the 13th century, or rather from the middle of it, builders began to cast bells, which would later take their place of honor in the Pisa bell tower. The first such bell could sound the note G-flat. His name was Pasquereccia. Bell number two was called Terza and its note is B sharp. This object of architectural thought saw the light of day in 1473. In 1501, a Vespruccio bell, small in size compared to the previous ones, was cast, which carried the note “E” around the area. The largest bell, Crocifisso, was made by the master Vincenzo Posenti, and subsequently it was melted down by Gualandi da Prato, and this was in 1818.

Dal Pozzo - the salt note was made in 1606. It was destroyed during the bombing of World War II. After the war it was restored and sent to a museum. And in its place in 2004 an exact copy appeared. Assunta with the note B is the largest of the seven bells, thanks to Giovanni Pietro Orlandi. The last addition to the belfry was San Ranieri (note D-sharp). Moreover, it was repeatedly melted down. The last time this happened was in 1735.

The Assunta bell is capable, thanks to Giovanni Pietro Orlandi, of sounding the note B, and this particular bell is the largest of all seven. The last bell of the seven is the bell of San Ranieri (note D sharp). This one has been melted down many times. Today it is no longer possible to count which of them stands on the Tower.

Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa serves the existing cathedral with its bells. Before each service, everyone and just onlookers nearby can hear the bells ringing. Today all the bells ring at the same time, but in former times each of them was assigned its own liturgical hour.

Saving the tower from falling

Closer to modern times, a terrible strong hurricane occurred in Pisa, which changed the tilt of the Tower by 1 millimeter in one night. The city authorities faced a serious question - how to preserve the Tower and prevent it from falling. An interesting move was even made and a competition was organized, during which city residents were invited to send their options for saving the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But there was one main condition - the slope must be preserved, because it was in this incarnation that this architectural object became a symbol of the city. The proposals were very diverse and unusual.

A very original proposal was to place a would-be architect under the tower, who could not properly ensure that his Tower stood. There was also a proposal to attach a huge balloon to the top of the tower so that it would hold the tower in a tilted state. A lot of ideas were sent, which generally boiled down to the fact that there should be a second similar tower nearby, but its tilt should be in the opposite direction, that is, so that the two towers would eventually meet and support each other.

Anyone can visit the attraction, but to do this you will have to pay a lot for the entrance ticket. Nevertheless, more than ten million euros were spent on all work on the Tower, which today must be returned to the city budget. The ticket price is 20 euros, and everything suggests that it will only increase. It may be expensive here, but come to the Tower early, in the morning, and buy a ticket in advance; nevertheless, visiting hours here are scheduled a day in advance.

Tower from inside

So, you have handed over all your personal belongings to the storage room, taking only your camera and camera with you, now you can go inside the tower. The staircase here is very wide, and it leads up the circumference of the tower from the inside. Since you are constantly walking in a circle, these steps can make your head spin. The steps you have to climb are made of marble, which in some places is very worn down by the feet of crowds of visitors. The closer to the top, the narrower the staircase and in the end will be no more than 40 centimeters.

The inside of the tower is completely empty, and the staircase you have to walk on wraps around this emptiness, and through the small windows you can look out and see everything with your own eyes.

From the fifth tier, observation platforms begin that tourists can go out to. Everything here is equipped for safety reasons, so the observation decks are covered with mesh, which makes it difficult to take normal photos.

Climbing to the very top is not so easy for many tourists; some stop a couple of tiers before. But if you still climb to the very top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you definitely won’t regret it. The view here is simply stunning, and there is no net. That's how it is - a reward for your efforts.

If you come here in the evening, you can also visit the Santo Campo cemetery as part of the tour. Here on the walls there are mysterious frescoes that are illuminated very beautifully and invite you to deep thoughts about the meaning of life.

How to get to the tower

If you are planning to visit Campanella, and it is located slightly away from the main tourist routes, try to set aside at least a day for this. After all, in this small town there is not only a leaning tower.

From the station you can reach the main attraction of the city in 40 minutes on foot. If you don’t want to walk, you can use public transport. It will take you to Pisa Rossore station, from which you are within walking distance of your destination

Pisa may be a small city, but among its attractions it can boast not only the famous Tower that never falls, so if you go to these parts, leave at least one whole day to visit all the surrounding areas.

Arriving at the Pisa train station, you can easily reach your destination on foot in about 40 minutes. If you are lazy, then welcome to city transport. 15 minutes and you are there. From the stop "Pisa Station" to the site there are just a few steps.

Several centuries ago, in one of the cities of Italy, a tower was built that slowly leans every year. And today the topic on the site “I and the World” is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, where is it located, who built it, why does it stand at an angle but does not fall, and how many floors and bells does it have?

There is an interesting history of the creation of the building. When the architect Pisano built a beautiful openwork tower, local authorities refused to pay him for the work. And then, the upset master said, turning to the tower: “Follow me!” It tilted towards the person, and over 8 centuries the angle of inclination in degrees has already increased to 5°30′, which is equal to five meters. Quite a tilt! But, surprisingly, in this position it survived earthquakes in the country and still delights tourists from all over the world. What a fabulous legend!

Grand construction

Few people know that the building is not a simple tower, but a bell tower (campanella), part of an architectural ensemble of one style - Romanesque.

All buildings: the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery, the cemetery and the bell tower itself were built in the city of Pisa (Italy). Construction began at the end of the 12th century and ended 2 centuries later in 1360. Over the years, there were breaks in construction and it is believed that the project was initially erroneous, where the soft soil was not taken into account, which on one side subsided and it became “falling”.

What is the building like?

After the first 11 meters, the bell tower tilted and construction was interrupted for as long as 100 years. After an attempt to correct the tilt, nothing worked, and the construction of the bell tower was completely stopped, without completing the 4 floors of the project. How many floors does the bell tower have? 8 were built, although 12 were planned.

The outside walls are covered with white and light gray marble, and near the entrance, bas-reliefs depict unusual animals and a beautiful sculpture of the Virgin and Child. Each floor is decorated with 30 columns, and on the last floor there is an elegant belfry, where 7 bells ring, striking a beautiful melody before each service.

55.86 is the height of the tower in meters on the tilt side and 56.7 on the other side. The mass of the entire structure is 14,453 tons.

What's inside? In the middle of the bell tower there are many covered galleries connected by richly decorated arches.

At the very bottom there is the Hall of Fish. The place received this unusual name for the bas-relief of a large fish - a symbol of Christianity. A staircase with 294 marble and comfortable steps leads to the belfry, and while you are going up, you can admire the views of the city through the observation windows, and on the fifth floor you can go out to the observation deck. And at the very top you will feel the tilt of the tower: not for the faint of heart!

And yet she holds on!

Why doesn't she fall? The soil on one side has subsided, but every year the slope either increases or, for some reason, decreases. This is due to the fact that the soft soil is constantly shifting, but people annually carry out work to reduce the slope. Interesting facts are associated with this activity. There was an idea: to attach the tower to a huge balloon, which would prevent it from tilting. Or even funnier: lay a railroad around it and run a tram along it; it will travel in a circle and compact the earth so that it does not shrink. Build the same tower next to it, but tilted in the other direction - let their tops support each other. Both laughter and sin, as they say! But, of course, they abandoned such “fun” ideas and settled on constantly strengthening the foundation. And hurray! In the 16th century, the “crooked” tower not only stopped tilting, but also straightened slightly. Now there is hope that the famous bell tower will stand for another three hundred years.

The tower and surrounding buildings can be seen daily, and from June to September it is open until midnight to admire the beauty of the city at sunset and take amazing photos. The ticket is not cheap - 18 euros, because too much money was spent on restoration. But even at a high cost, you need to buy a ticket in advance, because there are a huge number of tourists.

Exact location

Where the building stands, the exact address: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Tuscany, Italy. You can walk from the city station in 40 minutes, and you can also see other attractions. You can also get there by bus. And don't forget to take a photo with the bending celebrity. And one more thing can be said about the little secret of the tower: if it is somehow “straightened”, then it will no longer bring such colossal income to the city, and it will cease to be a “celebrity”.

You learned all the most interesting things about the Leaning Tower of Pisa from the article: where it is located, how many years it took to build and when it was built, as well as a brief description of the external and internal decoration.