Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning tower of Pisa

The leaning Tower of Pisa is famous because it leans. Although it was designed to be perfectly vertical it started to lean during constructions. However, even without this famous characteristic this building would still be on e of the most remarkable architectural structures. It stands at 60 metres at about 10 degree angle.

Tower of Pisa is more accurately reffered to simply as the bell tower.  The Pisa tower is one of the four buildings that make up the cathedral complex in Pisa, Italy, called Camp dei Miracoli , which means Field of Miracles.

The leaning Tower of Pisa is the crowning glory. Although only a third as high as the Washington Monument, it was a miracle of engineering with 207 columns ranged around eight stories.

The construction of Tower of Pisa began in August 1173 and continued for about 200 years due to a series of war. Until today, the name of the architect is a mystery. The leaning Tower of Pisa was designed as a circular bell tower that would stand 185 feet high. It is constructed of white marble. The tower has eight stories, including the chamber for the bells. The bottom story consists of 15 marble arches. Each of the next six stories contains 30 arches that surround the tower. The final story is the bell chamber itself, which has 16 arches. There is a 297 step stpiral staircase inside the tower leading to the top.

The top of the leaning tower of Pisa is about 17 feet off the vertical. The tower is also slightly curved from attempts by various architects to keep it from leaning more or falling over.

Many ideas have been suggested to straighten the Tower of Pisa, including taking it apart stone by stone and rebuilding it at different location. In the 1920’s the foundations of the tower were injected with cement grouting that has stabilized the tower to some extent.

Until recent years tourists were not allowed to climb the staircase inside the tower, due to consolidation work. But now the leaning Tower of Pisa is open again and it is one of the wonders of the great architect in the world.