The Leaning Tower of Pisa La torre pendente di Pisa

Where is Pisa? Dov’è Pisa? PISA È QUI Pisa is located on the west coast of Italy in the region of Tuscany (La Toscana).

History of the tower La storia del campanile The Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is the freestanding bell tower (campanile), of Pisa’s beautiful cathedral (il duomo di Pisa). It stands behind the duomo and is one of the oldest structures in the Square (Piazza del Duomo). Built out of limestone and white marble, the tower of Pisa is a work of art which was built to show the wealth and power of Pisa. It was constructed in three stages over a period of almost 200 years between 1173 and 1372. Construction of the first floor of the campanile began on August 9, 1173.  Construction first stopped in 1178 when the tower was only 3 storeys high because the Pisans went to war. It had already started to lean because of the unstable sub soil.

History of the tower continued La storia del campanile In 1272, they resumed construction of the tower. The engineers tried to adjust the tilt by building the upper floors with one side taller than the other, but this just made the tower begin to lean in the other direction. Instead of leaning to the southeast it now began to lean to the southwest. Because of more wars it took another 100 years, for the tower to be completed. The bell chamber was finally finished in 1372 and today it stands as one of the most unusual towers of all times.

FACTS AND FIGURES Located in Pisa, on Italy’s west coast. Height: 56.67 m –highest side. 55.86m - lowest side One of the heaviest leaning towers in the world at 14, 500 tonnes. It now leans at an angle of 4 degrees. There are 7 bells in the tower. The tower is built on very soft sediments, which is why it is so unstable. Stairs to the top- 297 It has eight storeys. Over 1 million tourists visit the tower each year.