There are few buildings anywhere in the world that are as iconic as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. One of the most easily identifiable of tourist attractions, the historic monument continues to attract visitors from around the world all year round.
Building of the Tower of Pisa commenced on the 9th August 1173. Set in the Campo del Maracol (Field of Miracles), also known as the Piazza del Duomo, it was originally designed to be the campanile for the adjacent Cathedral and Baptistery. The last of the structures in the square to be built it was of course originally designed to stand upright, but construction started on unstable subsoil.
There is some debate about the original architect for the bell tower. For a long period it has been attributed to Bonanno Pisano, mainly due to his sarcophagus being buried beneath the tower’s footings. Recent ideas though have indicated that Diotsalvi may have the honour as original designer. The Romanesque style is indicative of his work, work that includes the Baptistery and San Nicola tower, both in Pisa.
As already stated though building commenced in an unfortunate place and by the time the tower had reached its third floor, in 1178, a lean to the south-east was easily noticeable. Building on weak subsoil was made worse when the plans only allowed for three metre deep foundations. Made from local white and pastel marble, the first floor is made up of pillars topped with classical capitals against blind arcaded galleries. There are also sculptures of animals to be seen.
Construction though was interrupted as Pisa’s prosperity and security was interrupted with a series of clashes with the neighbouring cities of Florence, Lucca and Genoa. One hundred years passed before construction commenced again in 1272. The delay in construction allowed for the underlying soil to compact, probably saving the tower from collapse.
The building of the tower resumed under the architect Giovanni di Simone. Simone made the decision to compensate for visible lean by building the subsequent floors at an angle against the tilt. A further three floors were built in the years up to 1284, but again the building work ceased when Pisa was defeated in battle by the city of Genoa.
The seventh floor was finally finished in 1319, but it was a further fifty three years before the bell-chamber was added. The bell chamber was the first floor to steer away from the Romanesque style to more of a Gothic one. The second through to the seventh floor have open arcaded galleries, with the repeating arches providing a symmetrical image.
The bell chamber holds seven bells in total, each equating to a note on the musical scale. The L’assunta bell is the heaviest at 3,620kg, but it is La Pasquereccia that has the most history. This bell was originally cast in 1262, and therefore older than the bell chamber, and was originally housed in the Vergata tower in Pisa. There it was used to announce the executions of criminals. It was moved to the campanile in the 18th century to replace a broken bell.
The work by Simone created a curve aspect to the tower, but on completion it stood at 183ft 3in. At an estimated 14,700 tonnes in weight, it is of no surprise that the thickness of the walls at the base stand at 8ft.
In addition to being a tourist attraction since the 12th century, the tower has been a working bell tower. Legend has it that was also used by Galileo Galilei in an experiment about masses and descending speeds. The tower was saved from destruction during the Second World War when it was not bombed despite being an enemy observation post.
Saved from destruction during the war, collapse has often been seen to be imminent because of the lean that has increased over the years.
Mussolini during the 1930s actually attempted to straighten the tower by pouring concrete into the foundations; this though only caused further problems as the tower sank further. By1964 the problem was so acute that the Italian government asked for help from across the world. Plans were discussed with mathematicians and engineers involved. Whilst it was discovered that sunlight was causing the stonework to expand and contract on a daily basis, there were few ideas on how to solve the problem of the continuing lean. By the 1980s the lean was still increasing by 0.05 inches per year, giving the tower a finite lifespan until it collapsed.
Drastic solutions were called for and so on 7th January 1990 the tower was closed to tourists, and the bells were silenced. The tower needed to be straightened. 70 tonnes of earth (thirty-eight cubic metres) were removed from underneath the tower whilst steel cables and lead weights held the tower up. This removal of earth, completed in 2001, straightened the tower by 17 inches, returning the tower to the leaning position of 1838.
Today the tower leans at 3.97 degrees, and there is confidence amongst engineers that the tower is safe for another 300 years. Work on the tower is still continuing today, though this has more to do with aesthetics than structural safety, and today the work comprises of surface restoration to remove corrosion and blackening of the white marble.
The Piazza del Duomo has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and continues to attract thousands of tourists daily. So many tourists cannot be wrong; it is well worth a visit. By 2007 the tower had reopened and limited numbers of visitors are allowed to ascend the internal staircase to take in the views from the top of the tower. Tickets can be purchased from the nearby tower tourist office, but each ticket has a time on it which may be a number of hours in the future. Get there early enough and you can spend the day in the cathedral and baptistery until your entry time comes round.
It may be difficult to avoid the street sellers, and tourists taking photos as their friends pose holding the tower up, or pushing it over, but enjoy the experience. When your time comes be prepared for the walk up the stairs, there are 294 or 296 steps to the bell chamber. There are two steps left on the north facing stair case. Also look out for the last steps up to the bell chamber, the staircase is fairly narrow and claustrophobic. Also don’t be surprised when the bells go off as you arrive at the top, entrances timing seem to be made just for that event.
Even without the obvious leave, the tower is a remarkable piece of architecture which is over 800 years old. The views from the top are impressive of the low level city but it is the history of the site that is inspiring.
Copyright - First Published 21st March 2008
Building of the Tower of Pisa commenced on the 9th August 1173. Set in the Campo del Maracol (Field of Miracles), also known as the Piazza del Duomo, it was originally designed to be the campanile for the adjacent Cathedral and Baptistery. The last of the structures in the square to be built it was of course originally designed to stand upright, but construction started on unstable subsoil.
 |
| The Leaning Tower of Pisa - Alkarex Malin äger - CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
As already stated though building commenced in an unfortunate place and by the time the tower had reached its third floor, in 1178, a lean to the south-east was easily noticeable. Building on weak subsoil was made worse when the plans only allowed for three metre deep foundations. Made from local white and pastel marble, the first floor is made up of pillars topped with classical capitals against blind arcaded galleries. There are also sculptures of animals to be seen.
Construction though was interrupted as Pisa’s prosperity and security was interrupted with a series of clashes with the neighbouring cities of Florence, Lucca and Genoa. One hundred years passed before construction commenced again in 1272. The delay in construction allowed for the underlying soil to compact, probably saving the tower from collapse.
The building of the tower resumed under the architect Giovanni di Simone. Simone made the decision to compensate for visible lean by building the subsequent floors at an angle against the tilt. A further three floors were built in the years up to 1284, but again the building work ceased when Pisa was defeated in battle by the city of Genoa.
 |
| Leaning Tower and Basilica - Georges Jansoone - CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
The bell chamber holds seven bells in total, each equating to a note on the musical scale. The L’assunta bell is the heaviest at 3,620kg, but it is La Pasquereccia that has the most history. This bell was originally cast in 1262, and therefore older than the bell chamber, and was originally housed in the Vergata tower in Pisa. There it was used to announce the executions of criminals. It was moved to the campanile in the 18th century to replace a broken bell.
The work by Simone created a curve aspect to the tower, but on completion it stood at 183ft 3in. At an estimated 14,700 tonnes in weight, it is of no surprise that the thickness of the walls at the base stand at 8ft.
In addition to being a tourist attraction since the 12th century, the tower has been a working bell tower. Legend has it that was also used by Galileo Galilei in an experiment about masses and descending speeds. The tower was saved from destruction during the Second World War when it was not bombed despite being an enemy observation post.
Saved from destruction during the war, collapse has often been seen to be imminent because of the lean that has increased over the years.
Mussolini during the 1930s actually attempted to straighten the tower by pouring concrete into the foundations; this though only caused further problems as the tower sank further. By1964 the problem was so acute that the Italian government asked for help from across the world. Plans were discussed with mathematicians and engineers involved. Whilst it was discovered that sunlight was causing the stonework to expand and contract on a daily basis, there were few ideas on how to solve the problem of the continuing lean. By the 1980s the lean was still increasing by 0.05 inches per year, giving the tower a finite lifespan until it collapsed.
Drastic solutions were called for and so on 7th January 1990 the tower was closed to tourists, and the bells were silenced. The tower needed to be straightened. 70 tonnes of earth (thirty-eight cubic metres) were removed from underneath the tower whilst steel cables and lead weights held the tower up. This removal of earth, completed in 2001, straightened the tower by 17 inches, returning the tower to the leaning position of 1838.
Today the tower leans at 3.97 degrees, and there is confidence amongst engineers that the tower is safe for another 300 years. Work on the tower is still continuing today, though this has more to do with aesthetics than structural safety, and today the work comprises of surface restoration to remove corrosion and blackening of the white marble.
The Piazza del Duomo has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and continues to attract thousands of tourists daily. So many tourists cannot be wrong; it is well worth a visit. By 2007 the tower had reopened and limited numbers of visitors are allowed to ascend the internal staircase to take in the views from the top of the tower. Tickets can be purchased from the nearby tower tourist office, but each ticket has a time on it which may be a number of hours in the future. Get there early enough and you can spend the day in the cathedral and baptistery until your entry time comes round.
It may be difficult to avoid the street sellers, and tourists taking photos as their friends pose holding the tower up, or pushing it over, but enjoy the experience. When your time comes be prepared for the walk up the stairs, there are 294 or 296 steps to the bell chamber. There are two steps left on the north facing stair case. Also look out for the last steps up to the bell chamber, the staircase is fairly narrow and claustrophobic. Also don’t be surprised when the bells go off as you arrive at the top, entrances timing seem to be made just for that event.
Even without the obvious leave, the tower is a remarkable piece of architecture which is over 800 years old. The views from the top are impressive of the low level city but it is the history of the site that is inspiring.
Copyright - First Published 21st March 2008
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