Pisa in Italy. Incredible facts about the Leaning Tower of Pisa Interesting information about the Leaning Tower of Pisa

17.08.202327.05.2017

Even those who have never been to the Apennine Peninsula are well aware of the image of the original multi-tiered inclined structure, which architects and lovers of antiquity have been arguing about for centuries. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italy's most recognizable landmarks. And the fate of the Leaning Tower of Pisa worries the inhabitants of the whole world so much that a film had to be made about forecasts about its future.

What is the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The people of Pisa call the city's most famous landmark a "lingering miracle." However, she also has an official name: the bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta). The bells played an important role in the life of the city, and each temple sought to acquire a high campanile, on which a belfry could be placed.

Built in the Romano-Pisan style, the bell tower is incredibly elegant. The structure consists of eight tiers, decorated with arches and intricate bas-reliefs. Decorative Romanesque arcades give the building a lightness, while marble cladding makes it seem to float in the air. At the very top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa there is a belfry with seven bells, the first of which was cast in the 13th century. Each has its own name: Pasquereccia, Terza, Vespruccio, Crocifisso, Dal Pozo, Assunta and San Ranieri. You can listen to the bell ringing during the service of mass, as well as at exactly noon.

Inside the building is the Fish Hall, which until recently housed the equipment, as well as a spiral staircase leading to the observation deck and the bells. At the bottom, the steps are quite wide, but in the upper part they narrow so much that before entering the belfry their width is only 40 centimeters. So the groups have to move only in turn: it is very difficult to disperse in the aisle. There is a hole in the ceiling through which you can admire the stars. True, for this you will have to sign up for a special night tour.

If you are interested in how to get to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can always check the information in the guidebook or ask the locals. By public transport you will have to get to Pisa Rossore station. But it is much more convenient to order a transfer from the hotel: an experienced driver will be able to conduct a mini-tour of the city along the way.

Construction history

The construction of the famous bell tower was carried out in several stages, and already at the first of them the first problems with deviation from the vertical were outlined. The beginning of construction, according to documents, refers to 1173. The first builders were the masters Bonnano and Guglielmo from Innsbruck. Having built the first 11-meter floor, they found that the Leaning Tower of Pisa deviated from the vertical axis by 4 centimeters. The architects chose to abandon construction.

In 1233, different architects gradually built three more floors, and with each new tier, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned more and more. The reason could be the weakness of the soil, groundwater passing close by, or errors in the calculations. This has already happened: only in Pisa there are two more tilted bell towers, and there are about three hundred of them in the world.

The fifth floor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was completed by Giovanni di Simoni. By this time, the building deviated from the vertical by 50 centimeters, so the architect abandoned further work. In 1350 Tomaso di Andrea took his place. He tried to correct the situation by building on the wall opposite the slope by 11 centimeters, and then placed a bell tower with a bronze bell on the 8th tier. Initially, the project planned 12 floors, but it was decided to limit it to eight, otherwise the building could simply collapse.

From that moment on, the inhabitants of Pisa and the surrounding cities began to bet: when will the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa fall. But, despite the intensifying roll, the bell tower continued to stand. At the turn of the XX-XXI centuries, scientists reconstructed the famous landmark. With the help of extracting part of the soil and a system of counterweights, they managed to significantly reduce the slope. According to architects, if there are no strong earthquakes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will stand for at least another 300 years.

The Italians in their own way explain the reasons why the building leaned. According to legend, when the architect completed the construction of the bell tower, the clergy refused to pay for his work. Then the master turned around to leave, but finally waved his hand to the tower and said: “Come with me!”. It was at this moment that the bell tower allegedly tilted to follow its architect.

Another interesting fact related to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the experiments of Galileo. It was from her that he threw loads to prove that the weight of bodies does not affect the speed of their fall. Interestingly, the great scientist himself left no mention of this, so we can learn about the experiments with the bell tower only from the stories of his students.

The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is also called the Leaning Tower, is a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world. The flaws that were discovered only after the construction led to the fact that this building, of course, interesting, but not unique, became one of the most recognizable sights of Italy. Now they take care of it, because the value of the tower directly depends on its fame, and now, probably, everyone knows about it.

Facts about the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Its construction dragged on for almost 200 years, and it began more than 8 centuries ago, back in 1173.
To climb to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you have to overcome 294 steps.
The famous Leaning Tower acquired its slope due to a design error - its original foundation was only 3 meters deep into the ground, which, combined with soft soil and a small diameter of the base, led to the fact that it began to tilt.
Now the angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is controlled so that it does not fall. It has been corrected several times, and at present its top is deviated from the base by about 5 meters. And this is about 10% of its height (more than 55 meters, comparable to a 15-story residential building).
According to some documents, the famous Galileo conducted his research on the Leaning Tower of Pisa, dropping objects from it and recording the results.
The mass of the Leaning Tower of Pisa reaches almost 14.5 thousand tons.
For many centuries, it tilted a few millimeters a year, until the slope became too great, and its rate of fall increased.
At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to tourists for 11 years, while it was repaired. It was strengthened, stopping the fall, and, according to the architects, nothing threatens it for at least another hundred years.
In the bell tower of the Leaning Tower of Pisa there are 7 bells, each of which is tuned to a specific note.
In Chicago, USA, there is a water tower made in the form of a copy of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. True, the copy is reduced by half compared to the original.
It is still not known for certain which architects led the construction of the main attraction of Pisa. There are several hypotheses, but they have not been proven.
At first, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned to the north, but then leaned in the opposite direction, to the south. In this form, it can be observed today in Italy ().
The bell tower, located on its top, stands more evenly - this is not an optical illusion.
In the late 90s of the last century, the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned almost 10 degrees. Then it was closed for repairs, adjusting the angle of inclination to about 4 degrees.
In Pisa, the soil is generally soft, so there are not one, but three “falling” towers. But only one of them is world famous.
There are several tombs inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as it itself is part of the cathedral.
On its first floor, stone walls are almost 5 meters thick.
Some columns of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, under the influence of time and pressure changing due to the slope, collapsed at different times, and they were replaced with new ones.
Russia also has two famous leaning towers, Nevyansk and Syuyumbike.
Strictly speaking, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has no roof. Going inside, from the first floor you can look up and see the sky.

Do you want to know some interesting and fun facts aboutleaning tower of pisa ? Many people around the world know that Italy hasLeaning Tower of Pisa, which is the bell towerPisa cathedral but most don't even know why. tilted or how it still stands. Stopping at one of , you can get to know this wonderful sight more closely.

1. Construction of Pisa tower took 176 years!

Tower construction started in 1174 year, but was not completed until about 1350 of the year.

The reason for such a long construction is not surprising: severaldevastating to the treasury wars in which the city-state was involvedPisa . The delays were probably for the best, because the soil from years of construction sank, and that probably prevented the tower from falling!

2. Personality of the present architect of Pisa towers unknown.

Presumably, the architects of the tower wereBonanno Pisano And Gerardo di Gerardo.

In 1272 the project of the Pisa the towers passed into the handsGiovanni di Simone. He built the upper floors, which on one side are higher than the others, so the tower took on a slightly curved shape. The final contribution to the construction was made by the architectTommaso di Andrea Pisano who raised gothic top, where the bell was placed. The tower itself was built inRomanesque style .

3. The tower leaned the other way!

She initially tilted to the north, and then began to tilt south, until the next construction in 1272. She is today still leaning south. Can the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall? This has been a concern for a very long time, and in In the 20th and 21st centuries,changes. Before change tower in the 90sbent over 10 degrees. Today the tower leans over 3.99 degrees what is 5 meters from the perpendicular.

4. Possible connection with Galileo.

It is possible that the famous astronomer, born in Pisa, at the end of the 16th threw a cannonball from the top of the tower and musket to test the ratio of mass to speed.

5. The reason why the tower leans is still unexplained!

It is likely that the delay in construction is due to subsidence of the soil. Weakunstable soil clay, sand and shells, may have been too soft on the one hand, because of which the tower could not stand vertically.

All this, combined with a faultythree-meter foundation could cause the tower to tilt.Incline increased constantly sometimes at a very fast pace. The tower tilted to different degrees for many years before the completion of its construction -at least until a third floor was added .

6. There are other leaning towers in Pisa.

The soft ground of Pisa is the cause of the slope of several other towers, including And Campanile degli scalzi .

7. Can a famous Leaning Tower of Pisa fall?

After recent workstabilization, it should stand still at leasttwo centuries . To your trip to Pisa and other noteworthy was even better, you can stop at one of these

VILLA RICCARDI - Tuscany

Leaning tower in Italy has become the main attraction of the city of Pisa. This is not the highest and not the most beautiful tower in the world, but it has become unique and attracts the attention of travelers. The project of this unique bell tower, which reaches a height of 56 meters, was developed back in 1173 by Diotiselvi, and began to be embodied under the guidance of the architect Bonanno Pisano, but he could not finish it. Some time later, Giovanni di Simone took over the job, but he failed to correct the "errors" of the calculations, and he left the construction unfinished, completing the project only up to the sixth floor. Tomaso Pisano completed the construction of the tower in 1319, when the seventh floor and the bell tower were completed. Even then, the Leaning Tower of Pisa attracted the attention of the European public, many were waiting for its fall, but it stands to this day.

The architectural ensemble of the tower

The inside of the tower is no less beautiful than the outside. There are many galleries here, interconnected by arches. In the hall, tourists can see bas-reliefs depicting mythical animals. In total, there are three spiral staircases in the tower, and at the very top there is a belfry, decorated no less beautifully than the tower itself. In total, there are seven bells that sound every day at exactly noon. They also notify residents of the beginning of mass in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Additional Information! For a long time, the creator of the project and the first architect were accused of the "fall" of the tower, but modern scientists have proven that the soft ground of the city is to blame. Today, there are many leaning buildings in Pisa, but only one has received worldwide fame.

Interestingly, the region of Tuscany, where the city of Pisa is located, gave the world not only a leaning tower. Amerigo Vespucci, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were born here. Also a generally recognized fact is the formation of the Italian language precisely on the basis of the Tuscan dialect.

leaning tower of pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in the Romano-Pisan architectural style. The walls were laid out of stone, and then decorated with white and gray marble. A feature of the architectural ensemble is the presence of a hall that does not have a ceiling. From here you can look at the stars when visiting the architectural landmark at night.

All 294 steps of the three stairs are made of marble. It is noteworthy that their width is not the same, and by the last tier it is only forty centimeters. In order to avoid uncomfortable situations on the stairs and crowds, the descent and ascent are monitored by specially assigned employees.

Every tourist can make sure that the tower inside is empty. For these purposes, special viewing windows are installed. On the fifth and subsequent tiers there are special sites for viewing the area; for safety reasons, protective nets are stretched here. On the top floor, nothing prevents you from exploring the surroundings - a protective net is not installed here. Tourists have a view of the legendary Field of Miracles.

Additional Information! The angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is increasing. In 2008, it reached 5.5 degrees, and the authorities decided to stop the fall, but they managed to partially fulfill the plan - the fall only slowed down.

Legends of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning tower tours

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has acquired many myths and legends related to why it was not possible to build it immediately with an inclined angle, and why it decided to fall at all.

The most interesting legends and facts

One of the many stories related to why the building leans says that the last architect who built the last floor and the bell tower worked hard and was proud of his creation. But the clergy of the cathedral, who completed the order, decided not to pay for the work. Pisano, angry, shouted: "Tower, follow me!". And a miracle happened: she leaned towards her creator.
The next interesting story is connected with the famous scientist Galileo Galilei and has a scientific justification, being considered true. According to legend, he dropped various nuclei from the tower and, by the time of the fall and the flight curve, he was able to develop a theory about earth's gravity. So, the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa helped to make one of the greatest discoveries in science.
The name of Galileo Galilei is associated with another legend that took place within the walls of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Thanks to its architectural features, which led to the swinging of the lamp, the scientist was able to make another discovery - the law of space of a swinging pendulum. Whether this fact is reliable or not, it is impossible to say for sure, but it is this story that was recorded by Vancenzo Viviani, Galileo's bibliographer.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located on the Field of Miracles and has been standing there for more than seven centuries, but scientists are increasingly talking about the inevitability of the fall of an architectural masterpiece. The country's budget has a separate column for maintaining the structure, a special commission is working to develop plans for its rescue, but the angle of inclination continues to grow.

Additional Information! It is worth noting that it is possible to completely level the structure - this will completely prevent a fall. But the possibility of carrying out work was categorically rejected by the authorities of Pisa, because it is the uniqueness of the tower that arouses the interest of tourists.

Landmark of Italy

Interesting Facts

it is the current year that will become an anniversary for the tower - it will celebrate 845 years since the foundation was laid;
the total weight of the tower is about 15 tons, and the height is 56 meters 70 centimeters;
all seven bells located on the tower have their own names;
the largest of the bells weighs three and a half tons, and the oldest is over 700 years old;
despite the world fame, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only one of its kind, because the towers of Bologna, the Izmir tower and even the famous Big Ben can also be called falling;
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has a "younger sister" in the United States - in the city of Niles there is an exact copy of it, but the height of the building is half that;
the flag of the Republic of Pisa flaunts on the tower;
more than twenty million euros have already been spent to prevent the fall of the architectural heritage.

Tours of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Everyone who comes to Pisa considers it his duty to go to the top floor of the bell tower. It is worth noting that the stairs are made of marble, so the steps are quite slippery, and there are no railings on most floors. Guides, answering questions from tourists, honestly admit that there have been accidents of visitors falling from the tower.

The tour itself begins with the entrance to the tower. Then there is the ascent of the stairs from floor to floor. On the top floor there is a beautiful observation deck from which you can see the whole city. There is also a bell tower, but touching the bells is strictly prohibited.

The famous tower (top view)

Of particular interest is the La Pasquereccia bell, which has a very ancient history. It is older than the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself, and before settling here, it regularly informed the townspeople about the execution of criminals from another bell tower. Now it only sounds at Easter.

Additional Information! Each of the seven bells has its own sounding note, which makes it possible to play music on them, but this practice does not exist.

Actually, this is the end of the tour, that is, you should not expect anything unusual from the tour. Tourists are offered a simple climb up the stairs.

This is where the tour ends. It is difficult to say how unforgettable impressions a tourist will get from climbing to the very top. But for show, it is worth visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa and taking a photo against its background. If desired, you can book an individual tour in one of the many travel agencies. It will include a standard half-hour walk through the bell tower and a trip to other attractions located in the vicinity.

Additional Information! It is better to take pictures against the backdrop of the tower late in the evening, when the number of visitors is much less.

Tower in Italy

Rules for visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa

When visiting this architectural landmark, you should follow a few mandatory, but simple rules:

Before climbing the tower, bags and other bulky items must be left in the cloakroom. You can only take a camera or camera with you.
It is strictly forbidden to walk along the outer aisles, but this rule is ignored by many.
It is impossible to stand under the bells and, moreover, to be in them.
Despite the fact that the stairs on the last two floors are equipped with railings, it is forbidden to bend over them.
People with a fear of heights and cores are better off refusing to hike.

Working mode

What are the opening hours of the attraction? The structure has a special mode, interconnected. Yes, you can visit:

in March and October, from 9:00 to 17:00;
from April to September from 8:30 to 20:30;
in November, the schedule changes and is valid until February - from 9:30 to 17:00.

Additional Information! Tourists are also accepted from 20:30 to 23:00 during the high season - from June 14 to September 15.

Ticket price

How much are the tickets? When planning to go on an excursion, you should know that tickets are sold there for a strictly defined time, and being late even for a minute will mean that the pass is no longer valid. A half-hour walk is possible if there is a group, so its number is strictly controlled, and there may simply not be tickets for the desired time. But you should not be upset - sessions are held every half an hour, you just need to wait a bit.

The entrance ticket as of August 2018 will cost visitors exactly 18 euros. On the Internet, it can only be bought on the official portal of the tower. At the same time, there is no sales section on the English version, which causes some difficulties for tourists who do not know Italian. Tickets are also available directly at the entrance to the tower. The operating hours of the box office coincide with the visiting hours.

Favorite photo zone of tourists

Important additional information

The Field of Miracles is the location of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, where many other interesting objects are located. Exact location of the Leaning Tower of Pisa Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa. When planning a trip, everyone who wants to come here is advised to allocate at least one day for sightseeing, because, in addition to the Belfry, there are a lot of other interesting places.

It is very easy to get to Pisa itself by various means of transport:

Galileo Galilei Airport is located near the city. From here, the train station can be reached on foot in less than half an hour, from where you can take a bus to anywhere in the city. A ticket for it will cost only one and a half euros. However, for lovers of hiking, another option is offered - to go straight from the airport to the historical center of the city, which will take about 40 minutes of an exciting journey.
Trains from Rome and Genoa arrive in Pisa directly at the Central Station, a little south of the city centre. Rome - Genoa is one of the main railway lines in Italy, so you can get to Pisa from almost anywhere, you may need to transfer in Florence. From the station to the Tower you can walk or use the city bus.
Right next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the San Rossore train station. You can get here by suburban railway transport, traveling along the route to Florence or Lucca.
The square can be reached by private transport. There will be no difficulties, since there are a lot of signs in the city.
When entering Pisa by car, you need to be careful. In the city center there is a ZTL zone, where entry by vehicles is possible only with a permit: for example, a reservation at a hotel with parking. Without this, the police will issue a fine. You can get acquainted with the boundaries of the ban on the map available at

The "Leaning Tower" in Pisa is very attractive for tourism. You should definitely look at the famous flaw while traveling in Italy, taking a couple of photos against the backdrop of an architectural masterpiece.

The bell tower of the cathedral which is located in Pisa in Italy is called the leaning tower. She tilted even during the construction, which began on August 9, 1173. The round tower, made of stone and marble, has become one of the symbols of Italy.

The cathedral square, on which the leaning tower rises, is called the Square of Miracles - Piazza dei Miracoli. Here rises the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistero Baptistery and the Camposanto Cemetery: these architectural structures celebrate the three most important stages of human life: birth, life and death. All buildings on the Square of Miracles are designed in the same style, which is called "Pisan Romanesque".
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is admired for its size, and the repetitive arcades give the tower an openwork and lightness. But this impression is misleading, because, according to some calculations, the falling tower weighs about 14,500 tons!
The height of the tower is over 55 m.
In shape, it is a regular cylinder, inside which a spiral staircase of 294 steps winds. The stairs lead to the observation deck, where there is a belfry with bells. The tower has 8 tiers.
The construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa lasted 200 years. The long-term construction was frozen several times for a long time due to subsidence of the soil. The construction stopped for the first time when the bell tower was raised to the third floor. Even then, the first signs of the building's tilt to the south appeared. Work stopped and resumed in 1275. Three more floors were built, and the upper tier - a drum for bells - was erected only in the middle of the 14th century. At one time, it was believed that the architect (his exact name is still unknown, but it is assumed that it was Bonnano Pisano) planned to make the bell tower inclined, but now it is known that it began to “fall”, that is, gradually tilt, in the course of construction due to subsidence. The foundation of the tower turned out to be disproportionately low in relation to its height, and under the weight of the structure, the soil began to subside. From century to century, the tower leaned a few millimeters a year.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the object of close attention of scientists and architects. Efforts are constantly being made to make it more sustainable. So, the collapsing columns were replaced. Currently, underground work is being carried out to strengthen the foundation.
The tower is tilted to the south by about 5.5 degrees. To understand how much it is, it is enough to know that the upper arched cornice is shifted relative to the lower one by 4.5 m.
In 1817, two English scientists, Cracey and Taylor, proved that the tower at Pisa had fluctuated slightly over the centuries.
Pisa is not only famous for its leaning tower. There are many places in the city associated with the name of Galileo Galilei. There is a legend that he threw various objects from the top floor of the tower and studied the laws of motion. So the tower served science.
Eleven years - from 1990 to 2001 - the Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to visitors. In order to stop its fall - the bell tower leaned more and more - it was decided to fill the foundation of the tower from the north side with lead and surround the third tier with an iron belt. This helped the structure straighten up a bit. And most importantly, the angle of inclination of the tower has ceased to increase. According to scientists, it should remain in this position for the next 100 years.
The main attraction of Pisa is the seven bells tuned to musical notes.
The Americans, unable to withstand the glory of Pisa, in the suburbs of Chicago (in the town of Niles) built a water tower - an exact copy of the Leaning Tower, only half the natural size.
The cost of visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is approximately 10 euros, but this is only for the daredevils who are not afraid that the historical fall will occur precisely at the moment of their presence in the tower, they can even go up to the observation deck to see the views of the city. Those who do not want to take risks are usually content with photographs of their smiling faces against the backdrop of a "protracted miracle."