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The Leaning Tower of Pisa is known to almost every adult for its unique structure, because they teach about it in school. This is one of the most visited attractions in Italy. For many years, tourists were not allowed inside the leaning building, but since the “fall” was prevented, today those who wish can go up to the bell tower and look at the opening view of the Park of Wonders.

Leaning Tower of Pisa in detail

For those who don't know where the Leaning Tower is, it's worth heading to the city of Pisa. Attraction coordinates: 43°43’22″ N. w. 10°23’47″ E. d. The bell tower is part of the Pisa Cathedral, located in the Square of Miracles. His ensemble includes:

Cathedral of Santa Maria;
tilted campanile;
baptistery;
Santa Campo cemetery.

The height in meters differs from different sides due to the slope: the larger one is 56.7 m, the smaller one is 55.86 m. The diameter of the foundation is 15.5 meters. The mass of the bell tower is more than 14 thousand tons. The angle of inclination in degrees today reaches 3° 54′.

History of construction and its salvation

The history of the creation of the bell tower stretched over hundreds of years, as it was necessary to look for solutions to ensure that the structure did not lose stability. The project for the future bell tower was created by Bosanno Pisano, who began construction in 1172. After the construction of the first floor and two tiers of columns for the next floors, the structure began to collapse on one side. As it turned out, the soil under the foundation on the southeastern side was clayey, which is why it was eroded under the influence of groundwater. Work on the construction of the tower was stopped, and the master left the project unfinished.

Later, the soil at the foundation was slightly strengthened, and in 1198 the building was even opened to visitors. Work on the bell tower was resumed in 1233, and 30 years later marble was brought in to decorate the façade. By the end of the 13th century, six floors of the Leaning Tower of Pisa had already been built, which is why the crooked building began to stand out more strongly against the background of other buildings, and the shift was already 90 cm from the axis. Completely built in the year 50 of the 14th century, then the eighth floor with a belfry appeared. Despite how many years the tower took to be built, the official year of construction is not known with certainty. Some claim that it is 1350, others refer to 1372.

Many people have asked why the tower is tilted, and even argued that it was intended to be that way from the beginning. But the facts prove the opposite, because soil indicators were not taken into account when designing the structure. The foundation was laid too high, at a depth of 3 meters, which is fraught with destruction in soft soil. The bell tower does not fall only because work is still underway to strengthen the foundation.

In the early 19th century, city residents wondered when the great landmark would fall after part of the ground at its base was simply removed for aesthetic reasons. The structure began to tilt many times more, and for many it remained a mystery how it was managed to be preserved.

Active work to strengthen the foundation began at the beginning of the 20th century and continues to this day. First, the base was strengthened, making it waterproof using liquid cement; later, lead weights were attached to the concrete beams on the north side, which were supposed to stabilize the structure. The main work was done with the soil: it was literally washed out bit by bit, and an auger was placed under the structure. As a result, the Leaning Tower of Pisa became what it looks like today; its angle of inclination decreased by almost one and a half degrees.

Facade and interior design of the bell tower

Once you look at what the tower looks like from the outside, you immediately want to classify it as one of the 7 wonders of the world. It is made of marble, but the openwork arches in the Gothic style make the eight-story building so airy that not a single photograph will convey its true beauty. The first floor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is blank, it is decorated with arches with 15 semi-columns. Above the door is a sculpture of Mary and Child dating from the 15th century.

Six identical floors enchant with their architecture. Each floor consists of 30 columns that turn into openwork arches, empty in appearance, which gives greater lightness to the overall impression. The beautiful belfry is decorated with drawings of mystical animals. For those who are interested in how many bells are installed inside, it is worth saying that there are seven of them, and the largest is called L’Assunta (Assumption).

The inside of the campanile is no less interesting than the outside. Its walls are decorated with pictures on bas-reliefs. As you climb the floors, you can visit the tower's galleries, each of which hides its own secrets. The staircase leading to the bell tower is spiral; There are 294 steps leading to the top, the size of which decreases with each floor. The view inside is just as impressive and you can feel that every detail has been worked hard on.

Legends of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

There is an interesting story explaining the reason why the tower leaned. According to her, the structure was created by the master Pisano, refined and graceful, it rose straight, and nothing could spoil the appearance. Upon completion of the work, the architect turned to the clergy for payment, but they refused him. The master became upset, turned around and finally threw in the direction of the tower: “Follow me!” As soon as he said this, his creation, as if obeying, bent down after its creator.

Another legend is associated with the works of Galileo Galilei. Some sources mention that the great scientist threw bodies of different masses from the bell tower to prove the law of universal gravity to teachers from the University of Pisa.

In addition, the biography of Galileo indicates that his contribution to physics, associated with the oscillations of the pendulum, is also associated with experiments carried out in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Until now, this data has caused controversy in scientific circles, as some claim that this is fiction, others refer to biographical information.

The amazing thing about the leaning tower

It is known from history that the construction of the campanile is unstable, which is why every year it leans more and more to the south. But, despite this, the famous bell tower was not damaged by earthquakes, which have happened more than once in Tuscany.

Interesting facts also concern the Hall of the Fish, on the wall of which there is a bas-relief of a creature that is a symbol of Christianity. There is no ceiling in this room, and tourists, looking up, can see the sky as if through a huge spyglass.

Useful for tourists

Despite the fact that the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, interest in the Leaning Tower of Pisa continues to this day. Tourists are still asking questions about why the bell tower was built, in what country it is located, whether it will ever fall and why it stands at an angle. Catholics wanted to create an amazing bell tower that cannot be compared with any mosque, and they managed to create a real miracle, which paints its history in tourists’ photos every day.

Bell tower address: Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa. Getting to the square is easy, but it's worth checking the opening hours in advance. They differ not depending on the season, but on the month, so when planning a vacation it is worth looking at the work schedule. Once in the Park of Miracles, you will not need to look for where the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands, since it stands out from the general view due to its inclination.

During the excursion, they will definitely give a brief description of the history of the bell tower, tell you how long it took to build the belfry and what it is famous for, but the most important thing is not to miss the chance to go up. Only at the top can you admire the surroundings and feel for yourself how the tower stands and what makes it unique.

Hello dear travelers. The building that will be discussed now does not require much introduction. So let's say it briefly. This is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Go.

Italy. Region Tuscany. The Leaning Tower of Pisa or Torre pendente di Pisa is part of the Pisa Cathedral, stands in Italy, the city on the Square of Miracles - Piazza dei Miracoli. The Square of Miracles is a protected site of world culture and is included in the UNESCO list.

Most likely, you already know this, since the Leaning Tower of Pisa gained worldwide popularity thanks to its unusual tilt and... an engineering error. There are quite a few leaning towers, even in Pisa itself. Why did this one become a star? Now we'll tell you.

Tower

The tower building stands behind the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. And it is considered the third chronologically of the famous buildings of the Square of Miracles. The first two are the cathedral itself and the baptistery.

The tower was tilted during construction, which lasted several decades. Over time, its slope only increased. It was stabilized and even slightly adjusted in the 20th and 21st centuries. Therefore, you should not wait for the moment when the tower falls.

Some dry but important numbers. The height of the building, as you understand, depends on which side you measure.

On the lowest side - the height of the tower is 55.86 m
High - 56.7m
This structure weighs 14,453 tons.
There are 294 steps leading to the very top of the tower.

In terms of its functions, this tower is the bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral.

Together with the entire complex of the Square of Miracles, it had a huge influence on Italian art. And by such a wonderful company, these buildings ended up on the UNESCO list.

Construction

The history of the leaning tower dates back to 1173. Then its construction began according to the project of Bonnano Pisano. It was carried out in two stages and lasted a total of 200 years.

Here we want to pay a little more attention to the sore point, that is, the tilt. Previously it was believed that it was sloped due to the architect's idea. But over time they found out that the whole point was a mistake by the designers.

They did not take into account that the combination of soft soil and a small foundation would cause a slope after the 3rd floor was built.

In 1272, D. Simone tried to compensate for the slope with a special floor design, but almost nothing came of this venture.

How the Leaning Tower of Pisa works

Legends and truth

The crooked tower that was built became an object of admiration from many. And, of course, a variety of legends were associated with it.

One of the legends is connected with the architect of the tower. Apparently, even in those distant times, not all dukes fulfilled their part of the deal and could “cheat” an employee. Oral traditions say that the Duke, who ordered the construction of the tower from the architect, decided upon completion of the work not to pay the creator of the tower. Then he approached one of the columns of his brainchild, put his hand on it and said: “Follow me.” At that moment the tower tilted. Beautiful story. It seems the Duke was not liked.

The second, perhaps the most famous of the legends, is about Galileo, who threw objects of various masses from a tower.

The progress of these experiments was included in many physics textbooks. Despite the fact that the scientist was a resident of Pisa, some authors have come to the conclusion that this is most likely a fiction, because. Galileo did not mention anything about this experiment in his own books. Disputes about whether this is true or not are still going on.

We are sure that Galileo conducted his experiments here. While preparing for the trip, in one of the cozy LiveJournals we came across an interesting blog about Italy. Unfortunately, I don't remember the address. There, the female diary author cited extracts from the city court book of complaints. In which a funny note from one merchant has been preserved.

He complained about a certain Galileo, because of whose experiments he suffered: from his words it was recorded that a man was walking along the square past the Leaning Tower of Pisa when a cannonball fell on him, and then a rifle bullet. The man managed to jump to the side, but fell and broke his heel. Next, he asks to punish the person who threw objects from the tower.

The answer of the great scientist was also given there, after reading which it becomes clear that he had autistic character traits. He stated that he had conducted serious experiments, and there was no point in talking to a person who could not distinguish a rifle bullet from a musket bullet. (I could be wrong about the bullets, because I remember the fact, but I forgot which bullets were mentioned).

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Excursion

Not everyone can get inside the Pisa miracle. For example, children under 8 years old are prohibited, teenagers under 18 are allowed, but only if accompanied by their parents. The rules were introduced after incidents of falls from the bell tower due to slippery marble floors and lack of guardrails.

If you were unable to get inside, you can enjoy the exotic appearance of this attraction and listen to the ringing of the bells.

Bells

The first of them was cast in the 13th century.

Its name is Pasquereccia, the note is G-flat.
The second bell is called Terza and represents the note B sharp. (The name is strange, since B-sharp is C).
Note E - little Vespruccio
C sharp - Crocifisso
Salt is the bell of Dal Pozzo.
The latter was destroyed during the war and was later replaced by Assunta, note B.
The last to appear on the bell tower was San Ranieri (note D sharp).

You can listen to how these bells sound every day at noon.

It is worth noting that lovers of evening romance can visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa at night. This opportunity is available from June 14 to September 15.

During such a visit, you can see the panorama of Pisa at night from the observation deck of the tower.

By the way, few people know that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only falling building in the city. Another one is located on Via Santa Maria. This is the bell tower of the Church of St. Nicholas.

Its slope, however, is not so noticeable, since it is “pressed” by neighboring houses.

There is also a third falling building in Pisa - the bell tower of the Church of St. Michael of the Barefoot Order. You can find it in Piagge Park.

Working hours

Every day from 10:00 to 18:00

from 07/04 to 09/15 – also at night.

What is the price

Standard ticket price 15€

Official site: www.torredipisa.it

Where to stay in Pisa

Now many housing options in Pisa have appeared on the service AirBnb. We have written how to use this service. If you do not find a free hotel room, then look for accommodation through this booking site.

We offer good options for hotels and hostels in Pisa

How to get there

The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands on Piazza dei Miracoli. You can get to the Square of Miracles from the Pisa San Rossore train station. It's a 20-minute walk. It's easy to find, although we didn't see any signs when we walked. We followed the map and asked. Every baby in the city knows where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is.

To help tourists, we have compiled a simple one.

Address: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI

Leaning Tower of Pisa on the map

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Any educated person knows in which country the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built. The Tore pendente di Pisa is located in Italy and is an unusual piece of architecture that symbolizes the city of Pisa. This is the pearl of the religious complex of Piazza dei Miracoli on the Square of Miracles.

History of the tower's construction

August 1173. To complete the ensemble of the Square of Miracles, consisting of the Catholic Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta), the Campo Santo cemetery, the Baptistery of St. Giovanni (Baptistero di San Giovanni, where the sacraments of baptism take place), construction of the bell tower begins. The process lasted almost 200 years, interrupted and resumed. Many historians consider the first builder of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy to be Gerardo di Gerardo.

1233. Construction continues under the direction of the builder Benenato Botici.

1264. The source of decorative material is the Pisa Mountains, where workers go to extract marble. The grinding of stone slabs is led by artisan Reinaldo Speciale.

1272. The further process of construction is resumed. Giovanni di Simone begins to level the slope of the tower structure, but his efforts do not produce a positive result.

1284. The naval battle of Meloria ends with the defeat of Pisa. This leads to the fact that construction is temporarily mothballed.

1319. The seventh level of the building is being completed.

1350. Construction of the topmost floor of the bell tower is completed. Master Tommasa di Andrea Pisano builds a belfry in the Romanesque style.

There is disagreement among researchers about the year of completion of construction. Three expected dates are indicated: 1350, 1360 or 1372.

The Italian city where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located is known as the birthplace of the world famous physicist and philosopher Galileo Galilei (1564). His student and follower Vincenzo Viviani wrote a biography of the scientist. He included a description of the experiments Galileo conducted to prove his theory about the relationship between the weight of a falling body and the speed of falling from a height. Being on the upper floors of the tower, he simultaneously threw objects of various body weights down.

Scientists' opinions on this issue are divided. Skeptics consider this description a legend. Most recognize the scientist's Pisa experiments as a historical event.

Interesting fact. A record from one of the court books has been preserved. The entry contains a complaint from a Pisan merchant. He was walking past the bell tower when objects fell from above: first a cannonball, then a gun bullet. He fell, seriously injuring his leg. The merchant asks the authorities to punish Galileo, who dumped all this from above. The answer of Galileo himself was also recorded, arguing that one should not pay attention to the words of a person who does not distinguish a gun bullet from a musket bullet.

Architecture of Torre pendente di Pisa

The building material was stone blocks of local origin. Marble from the Pisa Mountains decorates the façade in white and shades of grey. The portal is framed by bas-relief images of mythological creatures. The tympanum is ennobled by a statue of Our Lady by Italian sculptor Andrea Guardi.

The first level is an arcature, that is, a series of decorative arches. The lower colonnade is 11 meters. Subsequent floors are surrounded by galleries. Each of the galleries is formed along the outer contour by columns decorated with classical capitals, which rest on closed arched Romanesque structures.

The official height, recorded statistically, is 58.36 m. But it is noted that the highest side reaches 56.70 meters, the lowest - 55.90 meters.

The diameter of the base is 15.54 m. There are 294 marble steps leading up.

The thickness of the walls is impressive:

below - 4.90 meters;
at the top 2.48 meters.

According to modern data, the slope is 3 degrees 54".

Interesting fact. Legend has it that the city government refused to pay the architect after the construction work was completed. He approached the tower column, putting his hand to it, and said: “Follow me!” The building tilted in the direction where its creator had gone.

Bells

At its core, the unique creation of Pisa is a campanella, that is, a bell tower. The seventh level, the belfry, has arched openings for working bells. Musical instruments with names correspond to certain sounds on the staff. The weight of the largest Assunt (Assumption) reaches 3 tons 500 kilograms.

Interesting Facts. Initially, the Crocifisso bell was made by the artisan Vincenzo Posenti, but then it was melted down by another artisan Gualandi da Prato. The small-sized Dal Pozo received serious damage during the Second World War; at the end of the war, the restored version became a museum exhibit. The appearance of its copy among other operating bells - 2004. San Ranieri was melted down several times.

During the Middle Ages, each bell had a strictly established sounding schedule. At the moment, before each mass of the existing cathedral, the bell rings.

Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall?

The authors of the project, Bonanno Pisano and Guglielmo Innsbruck, are credited with the origin of the unique “fall” feature. There is documentary evidence, a treatise by the Italian painter Giorgio Vasari (XVI century). He claims that the "evil" that afflicted the bell tower was due to the lack of practice of Bonanno and Guglielmo.

One of the reasons is recognized as the mistake of the designers, who did not take into account the characteristics of soft soil when laying a three-meter foundation. This led to the fact that already during the construction of the first floors a deviation from the vertical began (1178).

The tower structure began to deviate to the south, since under the southern part of the base the soil is looser and more unreliable. The engineers decided to build the wall further on the side of the slope higher (+ 10 centimeters) than on the other side. But the construction site began to tilt in the opposite direction. Instead of the originally planned 10 floors, only 8 were built.

1934. Dictator Mussolini orders the Leaning Tower of Pisa to be returned to its vertical position. Another mistake was made - the foundation was reinforced with concrete, which led to the foundation sinking deeper than the required level.

1964. The Italian government, given the importance of the unusual architectural structure for the tourism industry, decides to maintain the axial deviation, but prevent further destruction. The issue was studied by specialists from various fields: mathematics, engineering, history. It turned out that the masonry is deformed due to the difference in day and night temperatures. The research lasted 20 years.

Temporary measures were taken: the lead block structures of the northern part served as a counterweight, and supports were installed for backup. Experimental studies were carried out on a concrete foundation model replicating the tower data.

After discussing the proposed methods, it was decided to remove 38 cubic meters of soil under the north side. This measure led to the leveling of the situation to the level of 1838.

The design was corrected until 2001. Having stabilized the slope, the tourist site was opened to visitors. Experts promise that the Pisan-Romanesque monument will stand for at least 300 years.

Until 2008, despite the efforts of scientists and builders, the annual deviation was 1 mm.

Restoration 2002-2010 reduced the slope from 5 degrees 30" to 3 degrees 54".

What does the tower look like inside?

The staircase at the beginning of the ascent is quite wide. The steps rise in a spiral from the inside, then are accompanied by a gradual decrease in size. The final level is characterized by an indicator of 40 centimeters. The marble staircase made of natural decorative material is worn in places and has become quite slippery. Tourists are advised to wear comfortable shoes.

The central tower part is empty. From the viewing platforms on the inside you can look into the depths of the space.

Starting from the 5th level, visitors have the opportunity to go to external observation platforms, which are equipped with fences and nets for safety purposes.

Some tourists prefer to finish their climb with the 7th floor (belfry). The bravest climb to the upper observation deck, which does not have a safety net, and its fence does not exceed 1 meter. A panorama of the entire religious ensemble opens.

Of interest to visitors is the Hall of Fishes, so named because of the bas-reliefs depicting sea creatures. Previously, the entrance was closed to tourists, since it was a room for equipment that constantly measured deviations. Among modern tourists, visiting the hall at night is popular. You can look at the starry sky, like in an observatory.

Interesting fact. A copy of the “Italian Leaning Beauty” was built by the Americans in the city of Niles near Chicago, Illinois (1934). The copy reproduces the Pisa landmark in detail, but is half the size. This design disguises an ordinary water tower.

How to get to the tower

It is easy to get to the city of Pisa from various cities in Italy using rail transport.

on foot, spending 30-40 minutes,
by public transport to the Piza Rossore stop, the fare is about 1 EUR,
taxi (approx. 6.30 EUR).

The main attraction of the Pisa complex is open daily, year-round:

April - September - 8.30 - 20.30;
October - March - 9.00 - 17.00;
14.06 - 15.09 - 20.30 - 23.00 - night visits.

Rules for visiting the tower:

Entry will not be permitted less than 30 minutes before closing.
For reasons of security, public order or special circumstances such as ceremonies, the schedule may be subject to change or some areas may be closed without prior notice.
The visit is strongly not recommended for persons suffering from cardiovascular pathologies or having problems with fine motor skills.
Due to safety requirements, children under 8 years old are not allowed inside. Tourists under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Proof of age identification may be required.
The ticket fixes the time of the excursion. Late arrival at the required time will result in refusal to attend and does not give the right to demand a refund.
Bags and other luggage are left before the entrance (luggage storage is a separate building) and collected after the end of the visit. You are allowed to take a camera or video camera with you.
The visit lasts approximately 35 minutes.
Ticket price - 18 EUR (constantly increasing).
Free entry for visitors with disabilities and their accompanying persons who provide the appropriate document to the cashier and fill out a special form.
No more than 30-40 people can be allowed inside at a time.
It is recommended to buy tickets in advance. Excursions are scheduled 1-2 days in advance (especially in the summer there are many people interested).

Popular hotels near the tower

Food prices

Other leaning towers in the world

The world famous city of Italy, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located, has two more non-vertical architectural structures:

Campanella of the Church of St. Nicholas, Via Santa Maria;
Bell tower of the Church of the Archangel Michael (degli Scalzi), Piagge Park.

Various statistical sources count approximately 300 “leaning” tower structures known throughout the world. You can divide this list into 2 groups depending on whether the project was originally intended to be tilted.

The most notable among the structures for projects involving “inclination” are the following.

The Capital Gate skyscraper (“Capital Gate”), Abu Dhabi, UAE, at a height of 160 meters, has a deviation from the vertical of 18°. Constructed using a unique diagonal grid technology. Expands from the base to the upper floors.
The Olympic Stadium Tower (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) was built to host the 1976 Olympics. Its inclination is 45°, height is 165 meters. It is held at an angle thanks to a foundation weighing 145 thousand tons, buried 10 meters underground.
The Bella Sky Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark consists of two oppositely curved towers. Each has a height of 76.5 m, the deflection angle is 15°.
Two skyscraper towers "Gateway of Europe" are directed towards each other, Madrid, Spain. Their height is stated to be 114 m, angle - 15°.

Among the architectural creations that bend under the influence of certain conditions, the following stand out:

Tower of the Catholic Church of San Juan de los Panetes, Zaragoza, Spain. The inclination is 2°. Previously, another building with a city clock stood in its place, leaning 2.3 m and destroyed in 1893.
The 75 m high bell tower of the Oudekerk Church, Delft, Netherlands, began to tilt due to a poor foundation. The tilt is stabilized to 1.98 meters from the central axis.
The bell tower of the church of Zuurhusen, Lower Saxony, Germany has a deviation of 5.19 degrees and a height of 27.4 m. The reason for the “fall” is also an unreliable foundation. The situation was stabilized by 1996.
Yunnan Pagoda, Sizhou, China, built in 961 with a height of 47 m. Its unstable position is determined by the negative influence of weather conditions. She deviated by 2.32 m.

Russia was no exception. Its “falling” tower landmark was built according to the decree of Peter the Great in Nevyansk. The construction dates back to the 17th century. The height of the building is 57.5 m. The deviation of the upper part is 2.20 m. Three versions of its deviation are described:

special project
soil subsidence,
from the suffering and tears of ordinary people.

Interesting fact. The 6th floor provides guests with the opportunity to visit the mysterious “hearing room”. The unique design allows you to observe an unusual phenomenon. Two people standing with their backs to each other in opposite corners can clearly hear each other whispering. There is absolute silence in the middle of the room.

The non-standard “falling” structures of the world conceal many mysteries. But tourists traveling around Italy strive to visit the city of Pisa to see the architectural miracle, which is under the auspices of UNESCO.

Perhaps the most recognizable architectural object in Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Its unusual appearance, rich history and purpose attract crowds of tourists from all corners of our planet. We will tell you about the history of the construction of the landmark, its description and interesting facts related to the tower in our article.

History of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower in Pisa is not a separate structure, but part of an architectural ensemble located in the Square of Miracles. In addition to the tower, the complex of buildings includes the Baptistery, the Pisa Cathedral and the Campo Santo cemetery. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Ascension. The construction of the falling landmark began after the completion of the construction of the Baptistery and the temple.

The history of the leaning tower begins in 1172, when Donna Berta di Bernardo bequeathed 60 soldi to purchase the stones that served as the basis for the monumental building. The foundations of the attraction were laid in August 1173. There is no exact information about the author of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Most historians agree that the symbol of Pisa is the creation of Bonanno Pisano. Experts also believe that the first construction project was wrong: the architect did not take into account the composition and softness of the soil, so instead of a vertical bell tower we can see a leaning tower. After the construction of the 1st floor, this defect appeared immediately. The base of the tower and the constructed 11-meter colonnade tilted to the north by 4 cm. At this stage, it was decided to postpone construction for some time.

The second stage of construction of the tower started in 1272. To prevent the bell tower from tilting further, it was decided to build the next floors with higher ceilings on the south (falling) side. This maneuver did not produce results: the tower continued to tilt, in addition, due to the asymmetry of the architecture, the central axis of the building was bent.

In 1284, the construction of the tower stopped again. The reason for this was the defeat of Pisa by Genoa at the Battle of Meloria. At the beginning of the 14th century, the 3rd stage of construction of the bell tower began. In 1319, residents and guests of Pisa were able to see the 7th floor of the majestic building. It is not known exactly when the last 8th tier appeared. Some historians believe that this event occurred in 1350, other sources point to 1360 and 1372. The last floor is characterized by an even greater bend in the structure, which gives the bell tower a banana shape.

After the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the authorities faced a new question: how to preserve the building and prevent its fall? The city government announced a competition in which all residents of Pisa could take part. At the same time, the main condition was put forward to the participants: the angle of inclination of the Leaning Tower of Pisa must be preserved.

Enterprising residents of Pisa have put forward many proposals to save the city landmark. Among them there were many curious ideas. For example, equip the building with a balloon that would hold the falling structure, support the bell tower with a large sculpture of the chief architect, attach a similar one to the falling tower so that both objects support each other, run a tram around the bell tower to shrink the soil, etc. Of course, none of the above options was not implemented.

At the end of the 20th century, large-scale work was carried out to “level” the bell tower. Scientists found that the soil on the northern side is harder, so it was decided to move part of the soil to the southern side of the object. The result was worth the effort put into it: the tilt of the tower decreased by half a meter, thereby rejuvenating the landmark by at least 200 years.
Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is in stable condition.

Description of the Leaning Tower

The main attraction of the city is made in the Roman-Pisan style. The bell tower was built of stone and decorated with white and light gray marble. At the entrance to the establishment you can see bas-reliefs depicting mystical animals. The upper part of the lunette is crowned by the work of Andrea Guardi - a sculpture of the Madonna and Child.

The 1st floor is equipped with 15 semi-columns, blind arches and caissons. The remaining 6 tiers are decorated with elegant Romanesque arcades, and at the top of the attraction is an arched belfry equipped with 7 bells.

The very first bell, Pasquereccia, was created back in the 12th century. Its note is G flat.
The second bell is called Terza and was cast in 1473. This forged giant sounds a B-sharp note.
The third bell is called Vespuccio, it was created in 1501. The note of the bell is E.
Crocifisso is the fourth bell, cast in the 16th century and melted down in 1818. Its note is C sharp.
In 1606, the fifth Dal Pozo bell was created, sounding the note G. During the Second World War it was destroyed. Some time later, Dal Pozo was reconstructed and placed in a museum, and its place was taken by an exact copy in 2004.
The largest bell, which sounds the note B, is called Assunta. It is the creation of Giovanni Pietro Orlandi.
The belfry also contains the bell of San Ranieri. Its note is D sharp. It was constantly melted down, the last time the bell was cast in 1735.

In the Middle Ages, each bell rang at a certain hour; the complex sounds of metal giants were never heard. Today the bells of the Leaning Tower ring daily at noon.

The height of the 8-tier Leaning Tower of Pisa is 56 m 70 cm on the highest side, and 55 m 86 cm on the low side. The base of the attraction has a diameter of 15 m 54 cm. The thickness of the walls varies from 2 m 48 cm to 4 m 90 cm. Closer to the top, the thickness of the walls of the structure decreases. The famous Pisa landmark weighs 14,453 tons.

The base of the tower deviates from the vertical axis by 4 m. The top of the building is inclined even more - 5 m 30 cm from the vertical axis. The tilt angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 3°54ʼ. There are 294 steps leading to the very top of the bell tower. Having overcome them, tourists go out to the observation deck and admire the picturesque views of the Square of Miracles and its surroundings.

Interior of the Leaning Tower

Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa there is a spiral staircase that allows visitors to climb all the way to the top of the structure. At the base, the steps are quite wide, but as they rise, their dimensions are reduced. On the top floor of the tower, the staircase is 40 cm wide. The steps are made of natural marble, which today looks pretty shabby and worn out.

The internal walls of the staircase are equipped with windows. Tourists who have climbed to the 5th tier can go to observation platforms located outside the facility. For safety reasons, the sites are equipped with barriers. People who are afraid of heights do not rise higher than the belfry - 7 tiers. Brave visitors brave the climb to the top of the bell tower. The observation deck on the Leaning Tower of Pisa is fenced with low structures that reach up to the waist of an adult.
An equally extreme activity is going down. The marble steps are quite slippery, so be extremely careful.

Please note: the Leaning Tower of Pisa is limited to 40 people at a time. If you have ordered tickets to visit it, then come to the Square of Miracles in advance.

The appearance of the tower's tilt is associated with an interesting legend. The construction of the bell tower was entrusted to master Pisano. He erected a beautiful tower - straight as an arrow. However, the project’s customers refused to pay for the work of the master. Then Pisano waved his hand to the tower and invited her to come with him. To the surprise of everyone present, the bell tower tilted, trying to take a step behind its creator.
Another interesting story connects the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Galileo Galilei. A famous scientist of that time conducted experiments on the tower, trying to prove that the mass of an object affects the speed of its fall.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only falling structure in Pisa. Also in the city are the leaning towers of Campanile San Nicola and Campanile degli Scalzi.
In the American state of Illinois there is an exact but smaller copy of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The structure functions as a water tower.
In the first years of construction, the bell tower tilted to the north. Having started the second stage of construction (XIII century), the tower began to tilt to the south.
The initial project included the construction of a 10-tier bell tower with a height of 98 m. Errors discovered in the architectural calculations reduced its height by almost 2 times (56 m).
Despite its external instability, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was used as a military base by German soldiers. It was an ideal observation point from which the plains of the city were perfectly visible.

For several centuries now, the phrase “Leaning Tower of Pisa” has been indivisible. Millions of tourists come to Italy just to see the world-famous miracle with their own eyes. Don’t forget that the city has many other interesting attractions, so visiting it will be a rich and exciting event, full of joyful emotions and unforgettable moments.