Leaning tower of Pisa style. Leaning Tower of Pisa. History of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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At the dawn of the 12th century in the Italian city of Pisa, on its very outskirts, the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Ascension began, and it would have been one of hundreds of other, undoubtedly beautiful, but little-known Italian cathedrals, if not for its world-famous bell tower or, as its more commonly referred to as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Here in it everything is unusual and outstanding, because it is not without reason that it is located on the Square of Miracles. Firstly, it is perhaps the only bell tower in the world that stands at some distance from the cathedral itself, although this is more likely due to the development project of the square. Secondly, in its external design, some experts trace Muslim motifs, finding some, albeit remote, similarity between the chapel and the minaret. But, nevertheless, it is not just one of the components of the ensemble of the Christian cathedral, but also its main decoration.

Construction

Already at the very beginning of construction, which falls on 1173, it was found that the clay soil under the chapel was prone to subsidence, so exactly a year passed from the moment the foundation was laid to the start of the main construction. The bell tower was erected two hundred years later, but since that moment, restoration work has been ongoing. Ultimately, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a seven-story building, consisting of the base and the belfry itself.

Interiors

Inside the tower there are many covered galleries connected by arches, which in turn are decorated with various ornaments. A huge hall with an open ceiling, its walls are lined with bas-reliefs depicting the inhabitants of the deep sea, three twisted staircases, and of course a belfry, its largest bell weighs more than three and a half tons, and the oldest is over four hundred years old.

tower fall

Today it has been established that the difference between the levels of the foundation parts is over two meters. But due to the fact that the center of gravity of the bell tower is located above the foundation, it continues to stand, although its deviation from the axis is already more than five degrees. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is constantly in motion, then its roll increases, then it, on the contrary, returns to its previous positions. All this is due, of course, to the displacement of the soil, as well as the activity of groundwater and human intervention. So in the century before last, it was decided to remove part of the soil, this led to devastating consequences, a number of nearby structures were washed away by groundwater.

In the middle of the 20th century, a special commission was organized, which included competent specialists, and which was designed to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa from destruction. Now various works are regularly carried out here to strengthen the building itself and the foundation, thanks to which the tower can stand for at least another three hundred years.

The most famous landmark of the Italian city of Pisa (Pisa, Tuscany region) is its Tower. It is known primarily for the fact that it does not stand strictly vertically, but at an angle from the main axis. After all, if it were not for this flaw, then thousands of tourists would hardly come every year to look at this “falling” landmark that has become world famous.

Not everyone knows that the "falling" tower is not a separate structure, but part of an architectural ensemble. In addition to the tower itself, which is actually a bell tower or a campanella (from the Italian word campanella, What means bell), it includes (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta), (Battistero di San Giovanni), (Campo Santo) and (Piazza dei Miracoli) on which it's all located. The bell tower is located near the northeast corner of the cathedral. And the whole ensemble is considered a world masterpiece of Italian architecture of the Middle Ages, which had a great influence on the development of culture in Italy.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has been falling for eight centuries. Because of this, the Italians themselves call it a "protracted miracle." The deviation increases every year by one millimeter. And the whole building deviated from the axis by more than five meters, which is not so small. But, no matter what, Campanella survived even today and is open to the public.

Since its construction, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has become almost a symbol of the city. Its construction began in August 1173, in the middle of a green meadow on the outskirts of Pisa, along with the city's cathedral and baptismal. Together with interruptions, the duration of the work was about two centuries. The bell tower was finally completed in 1370.

Who was the author of the original project is not known for certain. However, historical chronicles suggest that it could be Bonanno Pisano ( Bonanno Pisano ) . Today, it is no longer possible to determine whether the curvature of the building was originally conceived or formed as a result of subsidence of the soil. Although the second option looks more plausible. Most likely, the original project was already wrong in some ways. And the tower was originally planned as a vertical one.

However, almost immediately after the construction of the first floor with a colonnade 11 meters high, the building began to tilt to the south. And at first it was only four centimeters. After that, construction work was suspended and resumed only after 100 years. In 1275, when the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was already 50 centimeters, they tried to correct the situation. To do this, during the construction of subsequent floors, an excess height of 10 centimeters was laid on the side of the roll. Unfortunately, this did not help much, and the construction of the bell tower had to be stopped ahead of schedule, reducing it by four floors from the original project.

architectural features

The Romano-Pisan style of the Leaning Tower of Pisa amazes everyone with its grace and beauty. The height of its eight tiers after the completion of construction was 58 meters 36 centimeters. In the highest part, the height is 56 meters 70 centimeters, and in the lowest part - 55 meters 90 centimeters.

The diameter of the base of the bell tower, which has a cylindrical shape, is 15 meters 54 centimeters. The thickness of the outer walls at the base is 4 meters 90 centimeters, and at the top - 2 meters 48 centimeters. Its deviation from the vertical axis at the base level is 4 meters, and at the top level - 5 meters 30 centimeters. Campanella is raised to the upper level 294 steps. And from there, tourists who have overcome the ascent have a beautiful view of the Field of Miracles and the surrounding area.

bells

The very first one was cast in the middle of the 13th century. His note is G-flat, and his name is Pasquereccia ( Pasquereccia). Second Terza ( Terza) with the note C-sharp appeared in 1473. Little Vespruccio ( Vespruccio) with the note mi was smelted in 1501. Crocifisso ( Crocifisso) with a C-sharp note was made by the master Vincenzo Posenti ( Vincenzo Posenti), and in 1818 it was melted down by Gualandi da Prato.

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

Since the cathedral, to which the Pisa Bell Tower belongs, is active, before each Mass, as well as at noon, everyone can hear the chime of these bells. Interestingly, in the Middle Ages, the bells did not ring at the same time, but each at its own specially set liturgical hour.

tower rescue

After the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was completed, the city authorities faced a new problem: how to prevent it from falling?

This issue became especially relevant after the hurricane that swept over Pisa and moved the tower a fraction of a millimeter in just one day. For this, a special competition was even announced among scientists, architects, and simply ordinary citizens, for which ideas to save the tower were accepted. The main condition for stopping the "fall" was to maintain the slope of the structure. After all, by this time the “protracted miracle” had become a symbol of Pisa and its main attraction. In response to the call, many proposals were received, and there was nothing there.

For example, building a sculpture of an unfortunate architect near the tower so that he would hold his unsuccessful creation. Or attach a huge balloon to the top of the bell tower, which would support the structure, preventing it from deviating. In one of the options, it was proposed to put a tram around the tower, which would compact the soil with its weight so that the tower would not shrink further. A number of ideas came down to building a similar one near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but with an inclination in the opposite direction so that they supported each other.

The most strange and curious projects, of course, were abandoned. Leaving only those proposals that were based on scientific achievements. At the end of the 20th century, the incredible efforts of scientists yielded results. It was found that under the south side of the base the ground is much softer than the north. With the help of additional steel cables, insuring the structure from falling, part of the soil from under the northern base was very carefully and painstakingly selected. As a result of the settlement of the tower after the preparatory work on the north side, the slope was reduced by about 50 centimeters, rejuvenating the tower by a couple of hundred years. After that, the cables, counterweights and supports were removed. Today, the pride of Pisa is practically in stable condition.

Working hours

Due to the threat of destruction, visiting the campanella was banned in 1990. The reopening took place in December 2001.

Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is ready to receive tourists all year round.

• April-September: from 8-30 to 20-30.
• October-March: from 9-00 to 17-00.

From June 14 to September 15 there are separate night visits. From the moment of closing until 23-00. Such an initiative was introduced to allow tourists to enjoy the view from the observation deck of the Leaning Tower of Pisa at sunset. At this time, the city is illuminated by a thousand lights and appears in a completely different way.

Official website of the Leaning Tower of Pisa: www.opapisa.it/it/la-piazza-dei-miracoli/torre-pendente/larchitettura.html

How to get inside - ticket prices

Due to the fact that tens of millions of euros were spent on trying to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the cost of visiting this attraction is also rather big. Today it is 18 euros and according to forecasts, it can only increase. Having decided to go inside, do not forget that no more than 30-40 people can be there at the same time.

Despite the considerable cost, it is still worth taking care of tickets in advance. Excursions are most often already scheduled a day in advance. And having come to the tower early in the morning, you will have, at best, the opportunity to take a ticket for the evening. In the summer, the situation becomes even more difficult.

Tower from the inside

It is worth coming to the starting point of the excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is due to the fact that you will have to (mandatory) hand over all things to the storage room (it is located in the next building). You can only take a photo or video camera with you. And women's handbags (including the smallest ones) are under the strictest ban.

Perhaps this is done so that visitors to the tower do not have the desire to put themselves in the place of Galileo and throw something off the top.

Going inside, you can see that the foot of the stairs is quite wide. It rises up the inner circumference of the tower. Despite the rather comfortable steps, many people experience dizziness after a while. All the time I want to grab the walls on both sides, so as not to fall. The steps are made of natural marble. However, since this material is mainly used for decorative purposes, it could not withstand the pressure of millions of visitors, and in some places it has strong wear. With each step, the width of the stairs decreases. On the last tier, it is about 40 centimeters at all.

Inside the tower is hollow and the staircase wraps around it in a spiral. Viewing windows are equipped along the inner wall, allowing you to look into this frightening void. After the fifth tier, it is allowed to go to the external viewing platforms. For reliability and safety, they are tightened with a net and fences. Some remain in the belfry (the penultimate tier) and do not rise to the very top. But in vain. Because for those who overcome the last test, the view that opens up is simply breathtaking. There is no mesh, and the height of the fence is only waist-high. Nothing prevents you from enjoying the view. From above, the cross of the cathedral is visible at a glance. And only at the very top you can realize how uneven the surface under your feet.

After the pleasure received, it is worth taking a deep breath and getting ready for the last test - the descent down. On each tier there are special people who regulate one-way traffic. That is, the movement alternately goes either up or down. Going down is harder. Abraded marble is an excellent base for sliding, increasing the chance of sliding down. So be very careful.

If you do not feel the strength to rise to the top, try visiting the “Hall of Fish”. The room was so named because of the fish depicted on the bas-relief located inside. The hall was closed to the public for a long time, because of the devices in it, with the help of which they constantly monitored the tilt of the tower. A hole in the ceiling allows you to observe the starry sky over Pisa during a night visit to the tower.

An evening visit to Campanella includes a visit to the Memorial Cemetery of Santo Campo. It is used not only for the burial of the dead, but also for life education seminars. There you can see and think about the cycles of frescoes on the walls, which have special lighting.

How to get to the tower

• The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located at: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa

If you are going 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 to the main attraction of the city you will reach in 40 minutes on foot. If you do not want to walk on foot, you can use public transport. It will take you to the Pisa Rossore station, from where you can get to the right place.

• See instructions:

Why is it falling

An interesting story is connected with the appearance of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It tells how the master Pisano was asked to design and build a bell tower for the cathedral under construction. The architect did his best. He erected an elegant tower as straight as an arrow. However, the Catholic clergy who ordered this work did not want to pay the master. The frustrated architect turned to leave. But in the end, he turned around, waved his hand and said to the tower: “Come with me!”. And in front of the surprised witnesses, the campanile leaned in an attempt to take the first step.

Galileo Galilei

It is also reliably known that it was in Pisa in 1564 that the famous future scientist was born - (Galileo Galilei). Historical chronicles tell that at that time just a physicist and philosopher conducted various experiments with the help of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He dropped objects of various weights and volumes from the top of the bell tower in order to prove his theory that the weight of the body falling down does not affect the speed of the fall.

The entire architectural complex, which includes the Leaning Tower of Pisa, was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status at the end of 1986.

It turns out there are three

Surprisingly, there are not one, but three “falling” buildings, namely the bell towers in Pisa. We have already discussed the first one in detail. The second is located in the pine park massif Piagge (le Piagge). This is the campanile of the church of St. Michael ( San Michele degli Scalzi).

The third bell tower was lost on the oldest street of the city and belongs to the church of St. Nicholas ( San Nicola). Its curvature is not so “striking” due to the densely surrounding other buildings. All structures gave a heel even at the time of construction in the distant past due to the heterogeneity of the soil and groundwater.

In total, about 300 "falling" towers can be found in the world. Among them are the clock tower in Izmir (Turkey), Big Ben (England), Bologna towers, Nevyansk tower (Russia). However, it was the “falling” Leaning Tower of Pisa ( Torre pendente di Pisa) .

Photo on the background

And, finally, a reminder: don't forget with the Pisan "falling" beauty. After all, photos against her background have become almost classics. With some effort, you may even be able to straighten the tower. After all, the angle of inclination in the photo, the angle of inclination will depend on the side from which the picture was taken. For example, if you stand on the north or south side of the campanile, then next to you there will be an absolutely flat structure. But the western and eastern sides provide an opportunity to see the "highlight" of the sights in all its glory. Having shown imagination or at least having wandered through the expanses of the Internet, you will undoubtedly be able to create your own composition with the Leaning Bell Tower.

How to get to Pisa

• from : the fastest is by high-speed train from the central station of Roma Termini FRECCCIABIANCA for 37 euros - travel time 3 hours, or regional for 23 euros - 4 hours. When planning a trip 2-3 months in advance, you can buy a ticket for a high-speed train for only 9 euros. Also, an electric train, costing 22 euros, departs daily from Roma Trastevere station. Tickets are bought directly at the station a maximum of 7 days in advance. Read.
• from Florence: from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, an electric train costs 8 euros every day, 2 times an hour, the journey takes about an hour.
• from Milan: from Milano Centrale station, the fastest way is by train FRECCIAROSSA with a transfer to the train in Florence at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Travel time is just over 3 hours. The cost is 48-65 euros (27-37 euros for 3 months) depending on the time of day. A slower option is a regional train for 34 euros (9 euros in advance), 4 hours on the way. Read.
• from Rimini: most likely you will have to get with transfers in Bologna and Florence, since there is no direct connection. The journey will take you about 4 hours. The cost of one-way tickets is 39-53 euros. An alternative option is to rent a car at the airport for 50-60 euros per day to get on your own without being tied to trains. .
• from Genoa: from Genova Piazza Principe station by regional or high-speed train for 15-20 euros. Travel time is about 2 hours.

You can check the current train schedule in Italy on the official website in the TUTTI I TRENI section. See instructions without intermediaries.

Where to stay in Pisa?

Most often, tourists come to Pisa for one day, this option allows you to check the box and take a picture against the background of a falling tower, but in order to visit other equally significant sights of the city and feel its atmosphere, we recommend that you stay in Pisa for at least 1 day by booking hotel on Booking.com. The cost of decent overnight accommodation options is between 60-100 euros. Using a special link you can find a hotel near the tower. As an idea: come to Pisa at lunchtime, walk around the city, look around, have dinner in the evening, and at dawn take a walk and take pictures at the most popular places. Then back to the hotel for breakfast and home.

Good luck with your travels and photos!

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Probably, the Field of Miracles that exists in Italy would have remained only a small personal pride of the city of Pisa, if not for one "defective" part of its ensemble. The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa has been threatening to fall for several centuries, but continues to courageously accept tourists within its walls.

Probably, the Field of Miracles that exists in Italy would have remained only a small personal pride of the city of Pisa, if not for one "defective" part of its ensemble. The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa has been threatening to fall for several centuries, but continues to courageously accept tourists within its walls.

Who, besides a narrow circle of architects and art critics, would be interested in Italy, if it stood straight and straight, like all other “decent” towers? Well, maybe even the people of Pisa themselves. And so every year millions of tourists come together just to look from afar, or even walk along the steps of that very falling tower. The most common design flaw, for which today the designers would not be “patted on the head,” made the bell tower at the cathedral a landmark of Italy of world importance.

What does the Leaning Tower of Pisa look like?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, which has long become the hallmark of the country, in the eyes of an uninitiated tourist seems to be an independent building, located somewhere on the outskirts of the town and living its own independent life. In fact, this is not at all the case. In the historical part of the city of Pisa, the huge Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli) is surrounded by a fence, which is one of the most beautiful examples of medieval architecture. On its territory, in addition to the falling bell tower, there are: the baptistery, Santa Maria Assunta and the monumental cemetery of Campo Santo. And that same Leaning Tower of Pisa is just the bell tower of the cathedral, which adjoined its northeast corner.

The height of the most famous bell tower in Italy on its lowest side from the ground is 55.86 m, and on the highest side it is 56.7 m. The diameter of its base is 15.54 m, and its weight reaches 14,453 tons. From the base to the top, the thickness of the outer walls of the Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually decreases: at the bottom it is 4.9 m, and at the top - 2.48 m. A narrow spiral staircase with 294 steps leads up to the belfry.

The falling bell tower has a cylindrical shape. All its eight tiers (together with the belfry) tend upwards. The first tier is an arcature - a series of ornate false arches on the facade of the tower. The next six tiers are surrounded by graceful decorative arcades, in the external appearance of which the features of the Byzantine style and the architectural traditions of Muslim countries are guessed. By the way, the issue of Muslim influence has not yet been fully explored. Historians have not decided whether the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built as a Christian analogue of the minaret. It is quite possible that the history of the minarets themselves, from the height of which all Muslims were called to pray by muezzins, goes back to the free-standing bell towers at Orthodox churches.

The outer wall of the bell tower is decorated with white and light gray marble ornaments. Below, at the entrance, the tower is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting fantastic monsters and animals, as well as with a ship and a lighthouse. Above the front door was previously the work of Andrea Guardi Madonna and Child. Today, this sculpture is in the Opera del Duomo Museum.

In 1986, the entire medieval ensemble of the Square of Miracles was given the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy

If you think about it, the very construction of the falling tower seems like one big misunderstanding. The author of the project of the bell tower remained unknown, construction work, twice interrupted for a very long time, dragged on for almost two centuries, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa began its fall even before it was completed.

In a picturesque green meadow on the outskirts of Pisa, on August 9, 1174, the first stone of the whole ensemble of the new Christian Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta was laid, consisting of a temple, a bell tower and a baptistery. Even here there were some misunderstandings. It turned out that the chronology, which was conducted in Pisa, is a whole year ahead of the calendar all over the world. So, the date of commencement of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa should be considered the year 1173. According to some historians, the first architects of the bell tower were Wilhelm von Innsbruck and Bonnano Pisano.

Previously, it was believed that the angle of the tower is a brilliant idea of ​​​​architects, eager to demonstrate their remarkable mind and talent. But time has refuted this theory. The project itself just turned out to be wrong at the root, or rather, in the foundation. Too small for such a tall building, the three-meter foundation was unevenly laid on too soft ground. Or perhaps Bonnano Pisano also simply saved on the foundation. As a result, after the construction of the third floor, the Leaning Tower of Pisa deviated 4 cm from the vertical and began its legendary aspiration to the ground. This happened in 1178. Pisano chose to flee the city. Although some sources claim that he was simply kicked out in disgrace by disgruntled citizens. At the same time, construction work was temporarily suspended for the first time.

The subsiding soil was strengthened, and the unfinished bell tower was temporarily opened after 20 years in 1198. For the next hundred years, the construction was either "thawed" or postponed again. In 1233, one floor was erected, and the project was "frozen" again. In the second half of the 13th century, the bell tower was already half a meter short of the vertical. And in 1275, two other optimistic architects: Giovanni di Simone and Giovanni Pisano announced that they would be able to bring the construction of the belfry at the temple to its logical conclusion. Their designs involved aligning the Leaning Tower of Pisa vertically. The tiers of the Leaning Tower of Pisa were arranged in such a way that each subsequent floor was 10 cm away from the slope. But this did not bring results either. The Leaning Tower of Pisa not only did not stop tilting, but also became crooked.

Only the grandson of the first architect Tommaso Pisano managed to complete the "Pisan epic". From 1350 to 1372, he was engaged in building a belfry on top. According to his plan, she had to balance the structure and stop the fall. This did not happen, but the belfry itself looks strikingly vertical against the backdrop of the tower.

Rescue activities

Throughout the history of its existence, the city authorities have been making every possible effort to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa from an inevitable fall. It was repeatedly closed for reconstruction, and then reopened. It was supported by cables, lead counterweights were installed, work was carried out to strengthen the foundation ... And all to no avail. The bell tower continues to deviate to the south from the vertical by about 1 mm per year. True, the last restoration, completed in 2010, reduced the angle of inclination of the Leaning Tower of Pisa to 3 ° 54 ′, and earthworks led to the fact that, having deviated to the north by several centimeters, the bell tower settled. This allowed scientists to declare that the fall was stopped for some time.

leaning tower of pisa for tourists

Nowadays, the leaning tower, deviated from the vertical axis by five meters, regularly receives guests. Traditionally, tourists could visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa with an escort in a group of no more than 40 people in the summer from 8.30 to 20.30. But the 2013 season was the first time that the main attraction of Pisa was open to the public until 22.00. The ticket price is 15 euros. The duration of the tour is 35-40 minutes. Apart from the belfry at the top, guests are not allowed on any other floor. Children under the age of 8 are not allowed to visit. And older tourists should think about their physical form: a narrow spiral staircase is a difficult test for people of age.

There is a legend that tells how Galileo Galilei conducted his experiments in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Although historians have not found confirmation of this among the records of the scientist himself, they tend to believe that the story is not fictional. The secretary, biographer and student of Galileo, Vicenzo Viviani, testified that the scientist, in the presence of two other researchers, dropped bodies of various masses from the Pizna Tower.

It is also curious that the falling bell tower has a counterpart in the USA. True, the water tower built in the town of Niles near Chicago is half the size of its Italian "twin".

And the Americans were also interested in the story of the fall of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In 2009-2011, they filmed the documentary "Life after people", in which they noted that without support, the bell tower will stand for another 250 years. However, the reliability of this theory is highly questionable. Some researchers are confident that without regular human intervention, the tower will fall in 40-50 years.

Be that as it may, the Leaning Tower of Pisa continues to stand, attracting new tourists to the town. Crowds of onlookers from all over the world stare at this miracle every day, afraid to miss the very moment of the fall. And the most daring bravely climb the steps, wanting to understand how Galileo felt. True, nothing is allowed to be thrown down from the tower. But who cares about such details, if one day it will be possible to tell the grandchildren how their fearless grandfather stood on top of the famous tower, which is about to collapse.

Falling tower

The city of Pisa is home to one of the most amazing buildings on earth. One of the campanile bell towers among the people and among tourists is called the Leaning Tower. It is located in the "Square of Miracles", next to the cathedral, baptismal and cemetery of Campo Santo.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa - the history of Italy and the whole world. This is not a simple attraction, but the heritage of all mankind. Although it is precisely the fact that the bell tower is slowly falling that makes it unique, otherwise it would be a simple monument of Roman architecture.

In addition, the beautiful surroundings of the tourist attraction make it even more picturesque. This is part of the ensemble of medieval architecture, from which it is impossible to throw out a single detail. The tower itself is the bell tower of the five-nave cathedral from the northeast side.

Historical reference

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has a long history. It is surprising that the bell tower has been "falling" for more than eight centuries. A strong slope appeared during the construction phase, which began in 1173 and lasted about 200 years. We remind you that at that time there were wars in Italy, so the break in construction lasted as much as 100 years. Who designed the structure is unknown, but some researchers suggest that it was Bonanno Pisano. During his lifetime, the first two floors were erected.

It was once believed that a tower in Italy was falling down because it was meant to be. However, modern scientists do not agree with this opinion. The fall of the bell tower is the result of an oversight in the design. The foundation was laid unevenly, so it could not withstand the weight of the structure, but the tower did not fall. A strong slope appeared after the construction of the third ring. The soil began to erode, and the heavy structure sank unevenly.

The well-known architect of that time, Wilhelm von Innsbruck, was also involved in the construction. Neither he nor Pisano was destined to see the final version of his creation. Almost three centuries after its construction, there was no belfry on the tower; it appeared in the 14th century.

The bell tower stands exactly in relation to the tower. It is known that the plan included the possibility of a slight deviation, since it was clear from experience that the soil under the building was very unstable.

architecture style

The bell tower belongs to the architecture of the Romano-Pisan style, so photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa will become an adornment of your traveler's collection. The shape of the building resembles a cylinder, the materials were unique Carrack marble and high-quality stone.

The monumental building fascinates especially with its falling effect. 8 floors are crowned with a belfry. On the first platform there are capitals, and further tiers are surrounded by marble arcades.

On the threshold of the Leaning Tower of Pisa there are statues of unseen creatures, and the top is decorated with a tympanum with the sculpture "Madonna and Child" by Andea Gowardi. The photo of the Leaning Tower of Pisa vaguely resembles the image of Muslim minarets, one can feel the eastern influence.

legends

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, whose history goes back 800 years, is covered with myths and legends. The most beautiful story tells about the fate of the architect Pisano. He became the chief foreman and engineer in the construction of the campanella for the cathedral in Pisa. The graceful tower resembled an arrow, which was an unusual solution for such a structure. Catholic clergy disowned Pisano's work. The frustrated architect shouted to the column: “Follow me!”. The tower obeyed, leaned and stepped sideways.

Scientists believe that Galileo Galilei himself climbed the tower in Italy. With its help, he studied gravity, dropped various objects from the top of the building to convince the teachers of the University of Pisa in the existence of gravity. The existence of such experiments was documented by Vincenzo Vivian, Galileo's student and biographer.

He also describes that the law of the constancy of the swing period of the pendulum was also discovered by the great scientist in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Galileo swung the lamp inside the building and came to these conclusions.

Falling but not falling

The question of whether the most famous tower in Italy would fall was asked by both our ancestors and contemporaries. At the end of the last century, it was decided to strengthen the building with lead counterweights. The restoration cost $27 million. Repeatedly carried out work to strengthen the foundation.

Photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa over the years confirm that the building is tilting inexorably. No amount of architectural contrivance prevents her from slowly falling. However, on the observation deck, which is located at a height of 56 meters, there are always a lot of tourists. Desperate people are not afraid that an amazing structure will turn into stone dust. Scientists report that the Leaning Tower of Pisa, whose history is inseparable from the history of Italy, will stand for at least another three centuries.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa tilts at about 1.2 mm per year. It falls towards the south. Now the deviation from the vertical is 5.3 meters. The object has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1986. The photo of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a clear proof that art, and architecture in particular, is eternal.

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There are many unique buildings in the world that have been standing for hundreds and even thousands of years. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the famous and unique buildings. Tourists from all over the world visit in droves to see the masterpiece of architecture. Most of them have a question, why is it tilted, and who built it?

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Leaning Tower of Pisa: Wikipedia

The city of Pisa, in Italy, became famous for its "falling beauty". For hundreds of years, this unusual architectural structure has attracted millions of people from all over the world. He is among the most famous buildings in the whole. Very often it is used as a visiting card of the Mediterranean state.

The famous building is located in Pisa, Tuscany. This city in Italy is located near the Ligurian Sea. The tower is not a separate building, but is part of an architectural complex. It serves as a bell tower (campanile).

The complex also includes:

• Cathedral;
• Baptistery;
• the gloomy cemetery of Campo Santo.

All these buildings are located in the Square of Miracles(Prato de Miracoli) and are the oldest in the city of Pisa.

The famous bell tower adjoins the northeast corner of the cathedral. The buildings are a masterpiece of medieval renaissance architecture, so inscribed on the UNESCO list since 1986. In addition, many different interesting stories are associated with the bell tower. However, most of all people are concerned about the question, why does it fall? The tower seemed to hang in its fall and everyone wants to capture themselves against the backdrop of a unique "beauty" 56 meters high.

Description of the falling bell tower

Leaning Tower of Pisa built white marble with beautiful arches and galleries. It has an unusual shape, and its arched openings give it grace and a peculiar architectural lightness. The buildings adjacent to it are also made of white marble.

• The diameter of the base of the bell tower is 15.54 meters.
• The total height of the masterpiece is 55.85 m from the South and from the north side the height is slightly less - 55.7 m.
• The weight of the famous leaning stone tower is 14453 tons.
• Interestingly, the thickness of the walls is different. For example, at the base, its thickness is greater - 4.9 m, and thinner in the upper part of the wall, only 2.48 m.

It should be said that degree of inclination"falling beauty" today is 3 about 54 ′. Such a degree is felt only from a high object. Between the vertical projection and the edge of the warping of the inclined structure, the difference is almost 5 meters. The unusual tower seemed to freeze forever in its fall. With this feature, she pushed the nearby cathedral into the “shadow”.

The magnificent religious building amazes tourists with its decoration and unusual shape. The bell tower is unlike many other towers. Its lower part is formed by an arcade, and all other floors are surrounded by galleries. Fantastic creatures depicted inside adorn the tower.

At the outer entrance to the tower, bas-reliefs flaunt, as well as decor made of white and light gray marble. Closed type arches are made in the form of a spiral without beginning and end. Graceful pillars adorn the outer part of the galleries.

Attention is attracted by the large belfry. In it is located vintage bell which is over 800 years old. The massive giant bell weighs over 3,000 kg. The bell tower has seven bells, according to the number of notes. A spiral staircase with 294 steps leads to the very top. If you overcome all the steps of the stairs, then you can see a wonderful panorama. It offers a wonderful view of the ancient Italian city.

Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa: why is it tilted?

architectural the building stood for almost 800 years, and in an inclined state. Many engineers were skeptical about this and believed that the tower would soon collapse. However, it is kept above sea level despite errors in construction calculations.

The project of the world-famous building created Bosanno Pisano. He started building the bell tower in 1172. When he first built the first floor and a couple of tiers, the building began to lean to one side. The reason turned out to be in the clay soil on the southeast side and, under the influence of groundwater, began to erode. Because of this, work on further construction was stopped, and the master never returned to them.

Later they began to work ground reinforcement in the area of ​​the building. The bell tower was open to visitors. Further construction work resumed 30 years later. They began to import marble for finishing the tower. By the end of the 13th century, the building had 6 floors. The error in construction began to stand out against the background of other structures. Its offset from the axis at that time was 90 cm. The eighth last floor with a belfry appeared in the 50s of the XIV century. The exact date of completion of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is unknown. Some sources mention the year 1350, while others mention 1372.

Tilt but not falling

The tower was conceived as a vertical structure. External factors have made their adjustments. According to one version, there was clay in the soil, and according to another version, there was sand. Another version is an incorrectly laid foundation. According to experts, its slope was also affected too long construction because it lasted almost 200 years. The slope became noticeable after the construction of the third floor. The builders tried to correct the slope of the bell tower, but their efforts were not enough.

Features of the soil and time made themselves felt and the tower leaned even more. At that time, tourists were not allowed to climb the stairs of the building. Engineers believed that such a rise threatened the lives of people. For this reason, security measures have been taken. Despite the fears of the engineers, the tower was able to successfully survive the earthquake and remain in the same condition.

Already in our time, the reconstruction of the campanile was carried out. Installed lead counterweights, the entire third tier was strengthened with an iron belt. All these measures did not affect the process of tilting the tower and it continues to tilt slowly. Experienced engineers say that the tower will definitely fall, but it will definitely stand still for at least 300 years before collapsing.

A lot of stories and legends are associated with this religious building in Italy. It is said that the master Pisano, who built it, did not pay the promised fee. He was upset, and leaving, bitterly said to the bell tower "Follow me!" and at that moment she leaned towards him. The local authorities were very frightened and immediately gave the money to the architect.

The brilliant scientist Galileo Galilei very often used the campanile to conduct experiments. He threw various objects from the top floor to prove that the speed of the fall was not affected by body weight.

Previously, each bell on the tower had its own ringing time; it had its own liturgical hour. The bells served the current cathedral before each service. Crowds of tourists and onlookers are still listening to the beautiful chime of all the bells, since the ringing order has been changed, they now sound simultaneously.