When was the Leaning Tower of Pisa built? Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted? Height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

It is one of the most recognizable buildings not only in Italy, but throughout the world. The peculiarity due to which an ordinary tower in the city of Pisa became famous is its inclination, because without it, it would be no different from thousands of other similar structures.

Few people know that the “leaning” Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of a composition that, in addition to it, includes: the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistary and the Campo Santo cemetery. All these buildings are located on the “Square of Miracles” (not to be confused with the “Field of Miracles” where Pinocchio buried coins). This entire composition is considered a masterpiece of Italian architecture of the Middle Ages, which influenced the development of culture in Italy.

The tower has continued to tilt for 8 centuries, and every year the deviation increases by another 1 millimeter. In total, it deviated from its axis by more than 5 meters, which, in other respects, does not prevent it from still standing intact and surviving earthquakes.

History of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, along with the cathedral and baptismal church, began in 1153 in the middle of a green meadow on the outskirts of the city of Pisa. With all the interruptions, the work took almost two centuries and was completed in 1370. The author of the project is Bonanno Pisano.

Today, it is impossible to accurately determine whether the curvature was created on purpose or arose as a result of soil subsidence. Although the second option looks more plausible. Most likely, a mistake was made at the planning stage, and the tower should have stood vertically.

Immediately after the construction of the first floor, 11 meters high, the tower tilted 4 centimeters to the south, as a result of which work was stopped for 100 years. In 1275, work resumed, although the tilt was already 50 centimeters. In order to somehow influence the fall of the tower, during further construction an extra 10 centimeters were laid on the tilt side. Despite all efforts, this did not help much, and the construction of the tower had to be completed ahead of schedule, while reducing it by 4 floors from the original plan.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is made in the Roman-Pisan style, striking in its elegance. Built of stone and decorated with marble, the tower greets visitors with bas-reliefs depicting mythical animals. The first tier consists of blind arches decorated with coffers, the remaining six floors are surrounded by decorative Romanesque arcades reminiscent of Byzantine architecture. The crown of the tower is a belfry with arches for seven bells. Each bell has its own name and tone.

The height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 56 meters and its diameter is 15 meters. There are 294 steps leading to the upper level, gradually narrowing closer to the top.

Rescue of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The constant tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa has forced the Italian authorities to think about how to prevent it from falling. Especially for this purpose, a competition was held, the rules of which were to figure out how to stop the fall of the tower, while maintaining its slope, because it was this that made the bell tower so popular all over the world.

There were many proposals, here are a few of them:

• Build a sculpture of a would-be architect that would hold the structure.
• Attach a huge balloon to the top that would support the tower.
• Run a tram around the tower that would compact the soil, thereby preventing the soil from subsiding.
• Build a similar tower, but tilted in the opposite direction so that they support each other.

In the end, all these ideas were discarded and relied on scientific developments. Scientists determined that on the south side the soil was much softer, so part of the soil was carefully removed, while the tower was secured with steel cables. As a result of the work, the tower settled on the north side, reducing the slope by 50 centimeters. After this, the supports and cables were removed, and the pride of all Italy is now in an almost stable condition.

Leaning Tower of Pisa inside

Inside, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is hollow and a staircase spirals around it. There are windows mounted on the inner walls that allow you to see this emptiness. After the fifth tier, everyone can go out to the observation decks, followed by the belfry, and then you can get to the top, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area.

Where is the Leaning Tower of Pisa

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

The cost of entry to the symbol of Pisa is 18 euros, but it is better to purchase tickets in advance, because only 30-40 people can visit the attraction at a time.

• There are two more leaning towers in Pisa - Campanile degli Scalzi and Campanile San Nicola

• There are legends that Galileo Galilei conducted experiments on the Leaning Tower of Pisa. By throwing various objects from the top, he tried to prove that the speed of a body’s fall does not depend on its mass.

• Initially, the tower leaned north, but after construction resumed in 1272, it began to lean south.

If we talk about the famous bell towers of the world, the most famous is, without a doubt, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In what other city is the slope of the campanile 3° 54"? This degree is quite noticeable only at tall objects. And the bell tower seemed frozen in its fall. Undoubtedly, the city of Pisa has a lot of other attractions. It is not for nothing that UNESCO included it in its World Heritage List (at number 395) the entire Prato de Miracoli square. Its name translates as “field of miracles.” And the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the Camposanto cemetery, and the cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin are magical creations of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Assunta is something special. All tourists consider it necessary to visit Prato de Miracoli to “prop” it with their finger (me, Batman, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa that I saved are the most common photos. But in this article we will figure out why the bell tower is falling, what is its height and what interesting stories are associated with it.

The city of Pisa and its attractions

The Cathedral undeservedly stands in the “shadow” of its famous leaning bell tower. You definitely need to go into it, just like the baptism of John the Baptist. But the city’s attractions are not limited to Prato de Miracoli square alone. The churches - Francis of Assisi, Santa Maria della Spina, San Paolo a Ripa d'Amo, Caterina, Frediano, Stephen, San Michele, Sant'Sixtus and others - are excellent examples. You should also visit the ancient monastery of St. Anthony. The galleries and palaces of Pisa deserve special attention: the royal Palazzo Reale, Medici, Lanfranchi, Agostini, Orologio, Carovana, Borgo Stretto. The city of Pisa boasts one of the oldest universities in Europe. The complex of educational buildings is also a historical landmark. There are many museums in the city. The most famous of them are: San Matteo, Villa di Corliano, Delle Sinope, Opera del Duomo, Medici Arsenals and Fortezza di San Gallo.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted: legend

There is a beautiful legend about the slow “fall” of the bell tower. They say that more than eight hundred years ago, in 1173, the master Bonanno Pisano took up the construction of the campanile. He created a wonderful marble tower, decorated it with arches and reliefs. But for some reason the local authorities refused to pay the architect the promised fee. Then the annoyed master said to his creation: “Follow me!” and moved south. And - lo and behold! - the bell tower leaned in this direction at the same hour. The frightened consuls immediately paid everything they owed under the agreement. The Campanile froze and has existed in this form for eight centuries. How much of this is true? Only the master's name. But Bonanno Pisano managed to build only the three lower floors of the high bell tower. And it was completed only two hundred years later, in 1360. It was decorated with sculptures in the fifteenth century, and with bells a century later.

A mistake that became a landmark

It's time to answer the question of why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted. For a long time it was believed that this was the architect's plan. But that's not true. The architect initially, even in the construction plans, made a mistake in the calculations. For the expected height of the tower, he planned a foundation that was too small (only three meters wide). And besides, he did not check the soil at the construction site. The silty and clayey soil under the southern end of the tower began to erode and sag. The error was discovered five years after the start of construction, when the third colonnade ring was close to completion (1178). The slope of the unfinished campanile was slight at that time. After all, the three-story building was only eleven meters high. The roll from the vertical axis was four centimeters. But this circumstance forced Bonanno Pisano and his assistant Guglielmo from Innsbruck to quit their work and hide in an unknown direction.

Attempts to complete the campanile

The problem was not so much the roll, but the very tendency of the deviation from the vertical axis to increase. Work was suspended, but not so much because of construction difficulties, but because of the war. In 1233 the fourth floor of the campanile was completed. After several more wars, the city consuls in the fourteenth century decided to resume construction. At that time the roll had already increased by half a meter. Giovanni di Simoni took up the matter. Instead of studying the issue and figuring out why the Leaning Tower of Pisa was tilted, he began to build the fifth floor. The structure was clearly at risk of collapse, and the master refused to continue construction. Indeed, in the Bonanno Pisano plan, the main campanile was conceived as a ten-story building with a belfry on the eleventh and a roof on the twelfth. Thus, the entire structure, in order to glorify God and the city, had to be ninety-eight meters high.

Attempts to fix the error

In 1350, the famous architect Tomaso di Andrea risked completing the work of his predecessors. At that time, the roll was already ninety-two centimeters. The architect studied the question of why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted, and realized that the problem is in the soil. Humans cannot change the soil, but they can influence construction plans. And he made certain adjustments to his calculations. He built the next floor of the tower eleven centimeters more on the inclined side, thereby providing some kind of counterbalance to the tilt. The master abandoned the original idea of ​​​​a too high campanile. He limited himself to eight tiers. The building was crowned not by a roof, but by bronze bells. But this refusal of four floors only delayed the inevitable fall. The degree of inclination of the campanile grew steadily every year.

Bell tower and Galileo

Don't forget that the interior is equipped with a staircase with 294 steps. And now you can climb them to admire the stunning panorama of the city. But much earlier than the tourists, Galileo Galilei climbed the tower. In the presence of two professors of natural sciences from the University of Pisa, he threw objects of varying weights from an inclined bell tower to prove the theory of gravity.

Rescue Campaign

Meanwhile, the beautiful creation continued to deviate from the vertical axis at a speed of one millimeter per year. In the twentieth century, scientists rendered a verdict: if prompt measures are not taken, the structure will collapse in forty or fifty years. Since 1994, a whole campaign has been launched to save this landmark. The height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, 56.7 meters, excluded any possibility of external support. Moreover, such a frame would inevitably spoil the appearance of this brilliant creation. Therefore, scientists took up the root cause of the “fall of the tower” - soil. In the late 1990s, lead bars were placed on the northern part of the building's plinth as a temporary measure. This counterweight slowed the fall and even reduced the roll by half a degree. But the rescuers didn't stop there. They gradually, one centimeter at a time, removed the soft clay soils from the southern side and replaced them with hard soil. As a result of these works, which only ended in 2010, the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was reduced from 5° 30" (in the 1990s) to the current 3° 54". It was announced to the general public that the architectural monument had stopped “falling.”

The beauty of the campanile

To be fair, it should be noted that there are many buildings in the world with a clearly visible slope. For example, the degree of tilt of the ancient Gothic church of Zuurhusen in East Friesland (Germany) is 1.22 degrees greater than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. And for this reason, the German temple ended up in the Guinness Book. But the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the photo of which has long become the “calling card” of the city, is also incredibly beautiful. It was conceived as a hollow cylinder of stone. two shades - snow-white and gray - makes it look like lace. Classical capitals crown the colonnade of the elongated ground floor. All subsequent six tiers are decorated with exquisite arcades and galleries. The tympanum above the entrance is crowned with a sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Andrea Guardi.

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

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At the dawn of the 12th century in the Italian city of Pisa, on its very outskirts, construction began on the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Ascension, 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 it is called more often called the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Everything about it is unusual and outstanding, because it is not for nothing 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 most likely explained by the square development project. Secondly, some experts trace Muslim motifs in its external design, finding some, albeit distant, similarity between the chapel and a 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 occurred in 1173, it was established that the clay soil under the chapel was prone to subsidence, so exactly a year passed from the moment of laying the foundation to the start of the main construction. The bell tower was erected two hundred years later, but since then restoration work has been ongoing. Ultimately, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a seven-story building consisting of a base and a 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 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 more than four hundred years old.

Fall of the Tower

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, either its tilt increases, or, on the contrary, it returns to its previous positions. All this is due, naturally, to soil displacement, 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, it is unlikely that crowds of thousands of tourists would come every year to look at this “falling” landmark that has become a global landmark.

Not everyone knows that the “leaning” 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 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 is all located. The bell tower is located near the northeast corner of the cathedral. And the entire 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 by one millimeter every year. In total, the building deviated from its axis by more than five meters, which is not so little. But, no matter what, the 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 church. Including interruptions, the duration of the work was about two centuries. The bell tower was finally ready in 1370.

It is not known for certain who was the author of the original project. 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 intended initially or was formed as a result of soil subsidence. Although the second option looks more plausible. Most likely, the original project was already mistaken in some ways. And the tower was originally planned as vertical.

However, almost immediately after the construction of the first floor with a colonnade 11 meters high, the structure began to tilt towards the south. And at first it was only four centimeters. After this, construction work was suspended and resumed only 100 years later. In 1275, when the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was already 50 centimeters, they tried to correct the situation. For this purpose, when constructing subsequent floors, an excess of 10 centimeters in height on the side of the roll was taken into account. 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 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 external 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. The campanella is raised to the upper level 294 steps. And from there, tourists who have completed the climb have a beautiful view of the Field of Miracles and the immediate surroundings.

Bells

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

Dal Pozo ( 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 ( Assunta) with the note B - the largest of the seven bells, appeared 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.

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. It is interesting that in the Middle Ages the bells did not ring simultaneously, but each at its own specially established liturgical hour.

Tower Rescue

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

This question became especially relevant after the hurricane that swept over Pisa and moved the tower by a fraction of a millimeter in just one day. For this purpose, a special competition was even announced among scientists, architects and just ordinary citizens, which accepted ideas for saving the tower. The main condition for stopping the “fall” was maintaining the slope of the structure. Indeed, 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 everything was there.

For example, building a sculpture of a would-be architect near the tower so that he could hold his unsuccessful creation. Or attach a huge balloon to the top of the bell tower, which would support the structure, thereby preventing it from deflecting. In one of the options, it was proposed to run 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 boiled down to building a similar one near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but tilted in the opposite direction so that they would support each other.

The strangest and most 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 southern side of the foundation the soil is much softer compared to the northern side. With the help of additional steel cables, insuring the structure from falling, part of the soil from under the northern foundation was very carefully and painstakingly removed. As a result of the subsidence of the tower after preparatory work on the north side, the slope was reduced by about 50 centimeters, rejuvenating the tower by a couple of hundred years. After this, the cables, counterweights and supports were removed. Today, the pride of Pisa is in almost stable condition.

Working hours

Due to the threat of destruction, visiting the campanella was banned in 1990. The re-opening 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 closing until 23-00. This 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 with a thousand lights and appears in a completely different image.

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 quite high. Today it is 18 euros and, according to forecasts, can only increase. If you decide to visit 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 coming to the tower early in the morning, you will, at best, have the opportunity to take a ticket for the evening. In summer, the situation only becomes more complicated.

Tower from inside

It is worth arriving at the starting point of the excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in advance. This is due to the fact that you will have to (mandatorily) hand over all your belongings 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 strictly prohibited.

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

Upon entering, you can see that the foot of the stairs is quite wide. It rises up the inner circumference of the tower. Despite the fairly comfortable steps, many people experience dizziness after a while. I always 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 is severely worn out. With each step, the width of the stairs decreases. On the last tier it is about 40 centimeters.

The inside of the tower is hollow and the staircase wraps around it in a spiral. There are observation windows along the inner wall that allow you to look into this frightening emptiness. After the fifth tier, you are allowed to go to external observation platforms. For reliability and safety, they are covered with mesh and fences. Some remain in the belfry (penultimate tier) and do not rise to the very top. But in vain. Because for those who overcome the final test, the view 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 clearly visible. And only at the very top can you realize how uneven the surface is under your feet.

After the pleasure you have received, you should take a deep breath and prepare for the final test - the descent down. On each tier there are special people regulating one-way traffic. That is, the movement alternates either up or down. It's more difficult to go down. Worn marble is an excellent basis for sliding, increasing the chance of sliding down. So be very careful.

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

An evening visit to the campanella includes a tour of the Santo Campo Memorial Cemetery. It is used not only for burying the dead, but also for life training seminars. There you can examine and ponder 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 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 it is just a stone's throw from where you want to go.

• See instructions:

Why does it fall

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

Galileo Galilei

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

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

It turns out there are three of them

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

The third bell tower is lost on the oldest street of the city and belongs to the Church of St. Nicholas ( San Nicola). Its curvature is not so “catchy” because of the dense surrounding of other buildings. All the structures tilted at the time of construction in the distant past due to the heterogeneity of the soil and groundwater.

In total, about 300 “leaning” towers can be found in the world. Among them are the clock tower in Izmir (Turkey), Big Ben (England), the towers of Bologna, the Nevyansk tower (Russia). However, it is the “falling” one that has gained the greatest worldwide fame. Leaning Tower of Pisa ( Torre pendente di Pisa) .

Photo against the background

And finally, a reminder: don’t forget the Pisa “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 will depend on the side from which the photo 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 level structure. But the western and eastern sides provide the opportunity to see the “zest” of the attraction in all its glory. By showing your imagination or at least wandering through the Internet, you will undoubtedly be able to create your own composition with the Pisa Bell Tower.

How to get to Pisa

• from : The fastest way is by high-speed train from the central station of Roma Termini FRECCIABIANCA for 37 euros - travel time 3 hours, or regional for 23 euros - 4 hours. If you plan your trip 2-3 months in advance, you can buy a high-speed train ticket for only 9 euros. Also, the train, costing 22 euros, departs daily from Roma Trastevere station. Tickets can be purchased directly at the station up to 7 days in advance. Read.
• from Florence: From the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station there is a train that costs 8 euros every day, 2 times an hour, the travel time is 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 the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Travel time is a little over 3 hours. Cost 48-65 euros (27-37 euros for 3 months) depending on the time of day. A less fast option is a regional train for 34 euros (9 euros in advance), the journey takes 4 hours. Read.
• from Rimini: Most likely you will have to travel with transfers in Bologna and Florence, since there is no direct connection. The journey will take you about 4 hours. One-way tickets cost 39-53 euros. An alternative option is to rent a car at the airport for 50-60 euros per day and get there 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 tick off and take a photo with the leaning tower in the background, but in order to visit other equally significant attractions 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 accommodation options is between 60-100 euros. You can find a hotel near the tower using a special link. As an idea: come to Pisa at lunchtime, walk around the city, look around, have dinner in the evening, and at dawn walk and take photos at the most popular places. Next to the hotel for breakfast and home.

Happy travels and photography!

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One of the most recognizable buildings in the world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She owes this to her unusual tilt. For more than 800 years, it has been tilted strongly to the side, as if falling.

The background of the Italian miracle

At the dawn of the 12th century, construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady began in the Italian city of Pisa. And it would be one of the beautiful, but little-known Italian cathedrals, if not for its world-famous bell tower, which became a landmark due to its unintentional tilt. More often it is called the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Everything about it is unusual and wonderful. No wonder the tower is located on the Square of Miracles. It is perhaps the only one in the world that stands at a distance from the cathedral itself, being at the same time an integral part of the whole architectural complex. This is the Pisa Cathedral, the baptismal church and the covered cemetery of Camposanto.

All objects are kept in one romanesque style and glorify the main stages of human existence: birth, life and death. The main decoration of the ensemble is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

History of construction

Construction, begun in 1173, continued for almost 200 years, including long interruptions due to war, and was actually completed in 1372, when the bell was installed. This is the largest unfinished construction project in Europe. The author of the project is unknown. Who is to blame for the fact that the tower came out crooked?

Previously, it was believed that the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was part of the architect’s plan, but, according to scientists, the design of the structure was initially erroneous. This became obvious after the construction of the third colonnade ring. The soft soil settled and eroded, causing the tower's disproportionately small foundation to settle just 3 meters deep.

One day the angle of inclination has changed. Under the pressure of the upper floors, the center of gravity shifted in the opposite direction from the initial one.

In 1934, dictator Benito Mussolini said that a crooked landmark reflected poorly on the nation's reputation. He ordered the Leaning Tower of Pisa to be straightened. To do this, more than a hundred holes were drilled in the foundation and liquid cement was poured into it. After hardening, the tower settled even deeper, and the angle of inclination became significantly greater.

Architectural features of the tower

In the external design, Muslim motifs can be traced, which bear a vague resemblance to minarets calling Muslims to prayer.

Cylindrical tower, built made of stone and marble, delights with its monumentality, the feeling of the “falling effect” and at the same time amazing grace.

Hollow inside, outside it is surrounded by huge arches with high columns. The wall of the lower floor is decorated with blind arches with capitals (the upper part of the vertical support that takes the load). They support the arches of the next six floors, each of which has 30 columns.

In total, the tower has 8 floors with a height of 56.7 meters. The building is crowned with an elegantly decorated belfry with 7 bells. The original ornament with mythical animals fits beautifully into the overall severity of the columns. All 6 central tiers are framed exquisitely with beautiful marble arches.

Near the entrance to the bell tower, there are bas-reliefs on the walls depicting extraordinary marine life. Above the doorway is a sculpture of the Madonna and Child.

On the ground floor the stone walls have almost five meter thick. The thickness of the upper walls is 2.5 meters. The Leaning Tower of Pisa has no roof. Due to the dangerous slope of the building, the architects completing the belfry sacrificed the roof. When you go inside and lift your head up, you can see the sky from the first floor.

Inside the tower, a spiral staircase of 294 comfortable marble steps winds around. You can climb along it to the top floor, where the belfry is located. The interesting thing is that the higher you go, the steps become narrower. During the ascent, you can look out the observation windows, and at the 5th floor level you can go out to the observation deck located on the outside.

Located at the very bottom Hall of Fish, which got its name because of the bas-relief carved on the wall. Those who are not afraid that a 56-meter tower weighing 14 tons will collapse right under their feet, having climbed up, understand how uneven the Leaning Tower of Pisa is and how great the angle of its inclination is.

Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall?

The original architecture attracts the close attention of tourists and scientists. The Italian authorities did not skimp on the restoration. In 1994–2001, lead ballasts - counterweights - were installed inside.

The structure deviates from the vertical axis by almost 5 meters. Every year for 8 centuries the slope increases by 1 millimeter. The Italians call it a “protracted miracle” precisely because the fall dragged on for 800 years.

How to save the tower

Work aimed at preserving the tower was carried out several years after the start of construction. Many rescue projects were unrealistic, incredible, implausible. Among them:

• Next to the tower, build a sculpture of the would-be architect that would hold the structure.
• Attach a huge balloon that would prevent the building from tilting.
• It was proposed to run a tram around the bell tower, under the weight of which the soil would be compacted and the structure would not shrink.
• Build exactly the same one near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which would deviate in the other direction. This way the two structures would support each other.

Scientists rejected such proposals and developed a scientifically based project aimed at strengthening the foundation.

The ground under the southern part of the bell tower is much softer than under the northern one. To insure the tower against falling, steel cables, counterweights and supports were used. From under the base of its northern part, using a rotating auger, literally a millimeter at a time, a part of the soil was very carefully removed. The tower sank from the north and straightened by 50 cm. All devices supporting it during repairs were removed.

In 2004, at a cultural symposium in France, scientists announced that the Leaning Tower of Pisa would stand for at least another 300 years. The unintentional tilt does not prevent it from still standing intact and even surviving earthquakes.

Despite the visible “defect”, the falling bell tower in 1986 received the honor of falling into UNESCO World Heritage List.

There are several tombs inside the tower, as it itself is part of the cathedral. Worship services are still held there today. They are announced by the melodious ringing of the bell of the Pisa Belfry. They are tuned in such a way that they can play absolutely any melody. There are seven of them in total - each has its own name and its own sound tone.

1. The oldest bell from the 13th century, Pasquereccia, which sounds the note G flat, has become a household name for the belfry for the Italians.
2. The next oldest Terza, tuned to B sharp, was made two centuries later.
3. Vespruccia, sounding the note E, was installed on the bell tower 30 years later.
4. Crocifisso (c sharp) was born twice, since it was melted down at the beginning of the 19th century.
5. Dal Pozo (salt), made in the 17th century, was badly damaged during the 1941 war and was replaced by an exact replica.
6. Assunta(si) is the largest bell of the tower.
7. San Ranieri (D sharp) is the latest one installed in the belfry.

Each of the bells has its own weight.

Numerous tourists are happy to learn unknown details about this extraordinary tower.

• Initially it was planned to build a 12-story bell tower 98 meters high. An error in the project changed the plan.
• It was on the Leaning Tower of Pisa that the famous scientist Galileo Galilei studied the earth's gravity acting on different masses of bodies. To do this, in the presence of other teachers at the University of Pisa, he dropped cannonballs from the tower, which allowed scientists to make scientific discoveries.
• Americans in the suburbs of Chicago built a water tower - an exact copy of the Falling Tower, only half its original size.
• During the Great Patriotic War there was a German military base here. Nazi troops considered the structure a good observation post. In 1944, the Americans, who liberated Italy from the Nazis, were delighted with the structure to such an extent that the commander-in-chief decided to cease fire. All efforts were aimed at luring German troops out of the building without causing damage to it, which was done.