Leaning Tower of Pisa. The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, which keeps falling but never falls

There are many leaning towers in the world that, for completely different reasons, have deviated from their vertical state and are tilting dangerously. Typically, the tilt of towers occurs due to changes in soil properties or due to errors by builders when laying foundations. Oddly enough, such towers often become attractions that attract crowds of tourists. Some of these leaning towers, due to their high historical and artistic value, are included in the List of Cultural Heritage of Humanity, or in the Guinness Book of Records.

The bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is undoubtedly the most famous “leaning” tower in the world. The first stone of its foundation was laid on August 9, 1173. The tilt angle of the tower is 4 degrees.

The church in Zuurhusen is located in East Friesland in northwestern Germany. Before its construction in 2010, the Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi was the most tilted tower in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The Zuurhuzen spire deviated from the vertical axis by 5.19 degrees with a tower height of only 24.7 meters.

In the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, there is also a falling landmark - the Great Lavra Bell Tower of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. It was built in 1731-1745 and today it deviates from the vertical by 62 cm in the northeast direction.

Big Ben, London, UK. The clock tower of the British Parliament leaned to the northwest by 0.26 degrees or 43.5 cm. It seems like a little, but for the British this is already a whole event.

The two towers of Asinelli and Garisenda in Bologna, Italy, are falling despite all the efforts of the city authorities. The larger tower is called Asinelli, and the smaller but more off-axis tower is called Garisenda. Its deviation is already more than 3.22 meters.

The tower on the hillside of the Frankenhausen Church (Germany) on the outskirts of the city is constantly exposed to strong winds.

Tower in Nevyansk, Russia. The tower is located in the center of Nevyansk and is one of the most famous in the Middle Urals. The construction was financed by Peter the Great, built in the first half of the 18th century by the famous Russian builder Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the tower is 57.5 m. According to the latest measurements, the deviation of the upper part of the tower from the vertical is currently 2.20 m.

Tiger Hill Pagoda or Huqiu Tower is located in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The tower was erected in the late period of the Fifth Dynasty (907-960 AD), its height is 47 m. For more than a thousand years, Tiger Hill Pagoda continues to tilt. The tilt of the tower today is 2.32 m.

The Tower of Burano, or the Church of St. Martin on one of the Venetian islands - Burano, Italy. The tower was built in the 15th century. Due to the unstable island soil, it began to tilt. It does not fall only because it rests on a nearby building.

The Oude Kerk Church is located in the ancient center of Delft, the Netherlands. Its bell tower, built in 1350, is 75 meters high and currently has a slope of 1.98 m.

Bedum Tower, Netherlands, is located in the northern Dutch town of Bedum, and also leans more and more every year. With its height of 35.7 meters, the tower deviated from the vertical by 2.61 m.

Bell tower of the Tikhvin Church in the city of Kungur. Built in the 1880s and standing 70 meters high, it leaned as soon as it was built and has a slope of 3.5 degrees. The Tikhvin Church is an architectural monument of federal significance.

Capital Gate is a modern skyscraper in Abu Dhabi, which is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest leaning tower in the world. The tilt angle is 18 degrees. Unlike the other structures in this article, the skyscraper was specifically designed and built with a slope. But why? To surprise the world in Arabic?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa can perhaps be classified as a landmark not only of Italy, but also of the world. And who, besides the numerous historians and thousands of tourists who visit Pisa every year, would be interested in this tower if it were not for its “curvature” and it stood straight, like thousands of other towers in the world? The famous “leaning” tower is the bell tower of the cathedral in the city of Pisa, part of an architectural ensemble of rare beauty, which, in addition to the bell tower and the cathedral, also includes a baptismal chapel and a cemetery. If the Leaning Tower of Pisa did not tilt, but stood strictly vertically, like all the other towers in the world, its fame would probably be limited only to a narrow circle of architects and historians. Thanks to its design flaw, it is known throughout the world.

Very often, this world-famous building is considered to be some kind of independent structure, standing somewhere on the outskirts and living its own independent life... In fact, this is not so. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of the ensemble of the city cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa. The tower is the bell tower of the cathedral and is adjacent to its north-eastern corner. The famous cathedral ensemble in Pisa is a masterpiece of medieval Italian architecture.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is rightfully the symbol of the city. On August 9, 1174, on the outskirts of Pisa, on a green meadow, the building of the ensemble of the city cathedral was laid, which included a white marble five-nave cathedral, a bell tower and a baptistery-baptistery. Thus, in a square remote from the city center, one of the outstanding works of the Middle Ages was formed, which had a huge impact on the development of Italian culture. But since the Pisan calendar, as it turned out, was one year ahead of the generally accepted one, the real date of the start of construction should be considered 1173. However, the foundation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was laid unevenly. Construction was stopped and resumed only 100 years later. Only then did it become clearly visible that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was “falling” leaning to the south. Since continuous measurements of the tower began in 1911, the top has been recorded as tilting at 1.2 millimeters per year. Today, the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted 5.3 m from the center.

The architects of the tower were Bonnano Pisano and Wilhelm von Innsbruck, but both of them were not destined to see the final completion of their plan. By the way, until the second half of the 14th century, the tower remained without a belfry crowning it.

It has been suggested that the curvature of the tower was originally intended by the architects to demonstrate their prowess and extraordinary architectural skill. But this hypothesis is not very plausible. What is more likely is that the architects knew that they were building on an extremely unreliable foundation, and therefore built into the building design the possibility of easy deviation.

The “leaning” tower has a cylindrical shape and rushes upward with its eight tiers (counting the belfry). Its six central floors are bordered by elegant decorative arcades, the appearance of which may have been influenced by the Byzantine or Muslim architectural tradition. The question of possible Muslim influences is doubly interesting, since it is still not clear whether the idea of ​​a free-standing bell tower in Christian church architecture arose under the influence of Muslim minarets, or, on the contrary, these minarets themselves, from the height of which the muezzins called believers to pray, have their own ancestry from Christian bell towers. The tower is decorated with ornaments made of colored marble (white and light gray). At the entrance there are bas-reliefs depicting fantastic animals, at the top there is a lunette with a sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Andrea Guardi

The architecture of the ensemble had a great influence on the monumental art of Italy of the 12th-14th centuries.

Although the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted, the bell tower, built in the second half of the 14th century at the top of the tower, stands straight.

In 1564, Galileo Galilei, the future famous scientist, was born in Pisa. Judging by his own stories, he used the Leaning Tower of Pisa for his experiments. From its upper floor he threw various objects to prove that the speed of the fall does not depend on the weight of the falling body.

The Pisa Cathedral contains several burial places of various historical figures, including the tomb of the German Emperor Henry VII.

Throughout the life of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, efforts have been constantly made to make the tower more stable. For example, collapsing columns were replaced several times. Now mostly underground work is being carried out to strengthen the foundation.

In 2008, scientists once again declared that the further fall of the Leaning Tower of Pisa had been stopped. Prior to this, despite numerous efforts to “freeze”, the tower continued to deviate from the vertical at a rate of 1 mm per year.

Well, a few words about the Pisa Cathedral, which, like the tower, is part of the ensemble on Pisa’s Square of Miracles

Pisa Cathedral- an outstanding example of the architectural style developed in Pisa and later defining dozens of Tuscan churches. It stands in the same place as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on the Square of Miracles, which, one might say, is crammed with architectural masterpieces, so the ancient city has something to be proud of.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1063; it was the first temple building in Italy with a cruciform plan and a central cross under the dome. The material was snow-white marble with gray-black stripes. The three portals are framed by columns and flat arches. The façade is topped with smaller arcades, arranged in several tiers above each other, which gives the pediment plane an elegant swiftness. The interior is decorated with a gilded ceiling and a magnificent Gothic pulpit by father and son Pisano. In the apse stands a colossal figure of the Savior. Pisan architects complemented the Lombard style with Arabic elements, creating a unique language of Romanesque forms, the sophistication of which no one else could achieve.

In front of the five-nave cathedral there is a baptistery (by the way, this is the world's largest baptismal font), which, together with the Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, forms a single architectural ensemble that adorns the Square of Miracles, which is recognized as one of the main centers of medieval art on the planet.

This square is interesting because the Pisa Cathedral is also slightly inclined - just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and just like the Baptistery, by the way.

People often mistakenly take Square of Miracles for the Field of Miracles, that legendary place where Pinocchio tried to grow a money tree, and they wonder: is it really here?..

How could it happen that a seemingly typical bell tower at the temple of an ordinary city became world famous? It's all about its tilt, which creates the illusion of falling. And although it was by no means intentional and in no way a consequence of the unprofessionalism of the builders, the visual effect was impressive - for centuries!

Meanwhile, the name of the building has undeservedly become synonymous with unsuccessful construction. The architects and builders of that time really made a serious miscalculation by starting to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa on an area characterized by excessively soft soil. Only this did not in any way affect the historical and cultural value of the attraction: the Leaning Tower of Pisa still stands out among the many oldest and most beautiful monuments in the Apennines.

In general, there are about three hundred “falling” buildings in the world. But the unique beauty of the airy, openwork arcades, the famous belfry and the rich history of the Leaning Tower of Pisa make it a priceless treasure of architecture, setting it apart from the rest. And therefore, quite deservedly, in 1986 it, together with the cathedral, the adjacent square and the baptistery, was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

History of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The grandiose construction of the “falling” beauty lasted almost 200 years with long breaks. It began during the heyday of the Pisan Republic as a maritime state (by the way, the first Italian maritime power). The construction of the architectural ensemble was planned far from the city center.

The first stage of construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was led by Guglielmo Innsbruck and Bonnano Pisano. On August 9, 1173, work began. At first, a different date was in use - 1174, until researchers realized and corrected it: after all, the republic had its own calendar, which was a whole year ahead of the generally accepted one.

First, they laid a foundation 3 meters deep. Then, as usual, they waited a year. It was here - after the first floor and two tiers with colonnades were erected - that the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa became noticeable. Work was suspended. In 1198, the soil was strengthened and the building was opened. An interesting fact remains that during construction the tower tilted in different directions: first to the north, then to the south.

The next stage began 35 years later, at the end of 1233. The management of such a complex object was taken over by employee Benenato, the son of Gerardo Botici. Around this time, half of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built.

Great progress in the work began when Giovanni di Simone joined the construction. At the end of 1264, stone quarrying began in the mountains near Pisa for the construction of the tower. The processing of building materials was carried out by master Reinaldo Speciale.

Since 1272, Giovanni di Simone supervised the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He decided to try to compensate for the slope by raising the ceiling level on one side by 10 centimeters. But hopes were not justified: this only increased the curvature. In 1275 the 5th floor was completed. The deviation from the central axis exceeded 50 centimeters.

In 1284, the Pisan Republic suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Meloria for supremacy in the Mediterranean. A period of decline began and construction was stopped again.

The next mention of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa dates back to 1319. The bell was raised to the sixth tier and placed in the arch opening. The final stage of construction was led by Tomasso. He was the son of Andrea Pisano, the famous Italian builder, architect and jeweler. In 1350, construction of the bell tower began. Finally, in 1372, the grandiose construction was completed. By the time the work was completed, the deviation from the central axis was 1.43 meters.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa turned out completely different from what was originally planned. Instead of a 10-story building, 98 meters high with a roof over the bell tower, only 8 floors were built. Today the height of the building is 55.86 meters on the south side and 56.7 meters on the north side.

The main question surrounding the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa has always been: “Why is it falling?” Many versions have been put forward on this matter. There was even a bold assumption that this was intended. The most likely reason for the tilt is considered to be an insufficiently deep foundation in conditions of heterogeneous clay soil that is prone to subsidence.

Architectural features

The outer and inner diameters of the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa are 18.484 m and 10.368 m, respectively. The weight of the tilted Italian beauty is 14,700 tons. It has 294 steps. The thickness of the walls at the base is also impressive - on average 4.05 meters, which decreases towards the top (at the base it is 4.9 m, and at the height of the galleries it is already 2.48 m). The current tilt of the tower is estimated by experts at 3° 54".

The appearance of the grandiose structure reveals the features of Romanesque, Byzantine and Arab cultures. To some scientists, the Leaning Tower of Pisa resembles a mosque or minaret. It is noteworthy that the bell tower is located at a distance from the cathedral, which is not typical for Christian churches. This circumstance led to the assumption that there may have been some influence of the Muslim architectural tradition. Or vice versa: the idea of ​​a free-standing bell tower first arose in Christian church architecture, and the younger Islam then adopted it. Many scientists and religious scholars are still arguing about this, and have not come to a common denominator.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is made of stone, richly decorated with light gray and white marble. The first floor is monolithic, with blind arches, which are formed by 15 columns with caissons. The rosettes with which they are decorated repeat the decor of the cathedral and baptistery. Next there are six tiers. The outer wall of each floor is an open gallery, decorated with intricate patterns and ornaments. Thirty columns of each tier with classical capitals rest on closed arches. These graceful arcades are repeated in the cathedral building, uniting the entire ensemble. The decorative decoration embodies the features of Byzantine architecture.

The belfry is located above the sixth tier of the arcades. The bell tower is less inclined from the central axis and stands straight. This gives the building a banana shape. At the entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa you can see amazing bas-reliefs. At the top, in the space between the arches, there is a sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Andrea Gardi. The inner cylinder of the tower is made of brick. The space between the walls is hollow. It is visible from the tower through observation windows. The building has three spiral staircases.

Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa there is a huge open hall, decorated with bas-reliefs depicting fantastic animals. Along the circumference of the wall, a spiral staircase leads to the upper tier. At the foot it is wide, and at the top the span is only about 40 centimeters wide. The steps are made of marble, and in some places they are very worn. The stairs lead to the observation deck of the tower.

Tourists enjoy visiting the Hall of Fishes. It is so called because of the images of sea animals. Previously, this room was closed for tours. There were instruments here that monitored the angle of inclination of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Stars are visible through a hole in the ceiling of the hall during a night visit. The spectacle is unforgettable: you feel as if you are in a real observatory.

Belfry tower

The bell tower is rightfully considered the most beautiful in Italy, and it appeared on the Leaning Tower of Pisa only in the second half of the 14th century. Each of the seven bells is tuned to a different note and has its own history. The first, oldest, is called Pasquarreccia, made in the middle of the 13th century. It is tuned to G flat. The Terza bell is responsible for the note B-sharp; it appeared in the belfry in 1473. Vespuccio's bell was cast in 1501 (note E). Vincenzo Posenti made the Crocifisso (C sharp) bell, which was melted down by the master Gualandi da Prato in 1818.

During World War II, the Dal Pozo bell was destroyed. After restoration it was placed in a museum. Its exact copy has been on the belfry since 2004. The largest bell, the Assunta (the name translates as "ascension"), is tuned to the note B. It weighs 3.5 tons and was made by Giovanni Pietro Orlandi. In 1735 the bell was melted down.

Pisans and visitors to the city can enjoy the church chime at exactly noon. It is impossible to describe its beauty and melody - you should definitely hear it for yourself!

Restoration work

Almost from the very beginning of construction, efforts were made to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The first commission was created in 1298. For centuries, people have tried to preserve this architectural miracle. To preserve the unique structure, unprecedented measures are being taken in our time. Only by 2008 was it possible to stop the “fall” of the tower.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is already more than 650 years old, if you count from the time of completion of construction, which makes it one of the oldest buildings not only in the city itself, but also in the country as a whole. Without restoration work, the Leaning Tower of Pisa would hardly have been preserved, and almost all architects and historians agree on this opinion. Activities to maintain the facility in its original form were carried out in different eras and, accordingly, varied in complexity: from replacing collapsing columns on the outside of the building to remelting the bells. And in order to prevent the Leaning Tower of Pisa from collapsing and to preserve it, truly titanic efforts were made. In 1934, liquid cement was introduced into the foundation.

The authorities of Pisa even announced a competition for the best option for “levelling” the building. There were many proposals. Some were quite original. For example, erect a monument to the “unlucky” architect Bonnano Pisano so that he can prop up his brainchild. Or build a symmetrical tower nearby, but with an opposite slope. But jokes are jokes, and they approached the work with all seriousness, building an experimental model nearby.

In 1989, in the Italian city of Pavia (Lombardy region), the bell tower of the cathedral collapsed. This caused concern: what if something similar happens to the Leaning Tower of Pisa? It was decided to take care of its preservation in advance - through the next restoration. So, in the early 90s the facility was closed to visitors. In 1992, 18 steel rings surrounded the first arcade gallery. Lead counterweights with a total weight of 600 tons were placed on the north side of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Safety supports were installed on the side of the slope. First, the technique was tested on a model, and only then they began to carry out unique work. Through a system of casing pipes and with the help of a special drill, soil was literally taken out in handfuls from under the northern part of the structure. The goal was to achieve subsidence of the tower on this side and level the structure.

The Italian authorities allocated $27 million to save the legendary structure, and the enormous expenditure was rewarded. The tilt angle decreased by one and a half degrees. In 2001, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was reopened to tourists. Today the difference between the two sides of the foundation is about two meters. According to the optimistic forecasts of scientists, the Pisa beauty should stand for at least another 300 years. As it was announced, since 2008, a greater deviation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa from the central axis, thanks to the efforts made, has not yet been observed. Before this, the slope increased by a millimeter every year.

Summarizing the above, one thing can be noted: despite its “shaky position,” the Leaning Tower of Pisa turned out to be more stable than many “flat” buildings, and not only in Italy. During its existence, it survived several major earthquakes, but it survived and continues to delight not only travelers, but also local residents with its original and unique appearance.

They say that a native of Pisa, the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei conducted his equally famous experiments on the tower. The scientist wanted to prove that all bodies, regardless of their mass, fall down at the same speed. To do this, he dropped various objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and measured the time of fall. Galileo, according to his student Vincenzo Viviani, also studied the amplitude of the pendulum's oscillations from the walls of the tower. Unfortunately, these facts remain unconfirmed, although there is no reason to doubt their veracity or plausibility.

But Donna Berta di Bernardo’s contribution to the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been proven. The woman bequeathed 60 soldi for its construction. This money was spent on the purchase of stones, which are still at the base of the belfry today. Thus, the woman perpetuated her name for posterity. She also sowed doubts about the people actually involved in the construction: in her message she mentioned a certain master Gerardo. It is also known that at that time the builder Diotisalvi was working in Pisa, whose participation in the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa seems more likely. However, he usually signed his works, and if he did not stay away from such a grandiose construction project, then why is his autograph missing on the bell tower?

A funny legend explains the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Allegedly, the structure was originally perfectly straight. But the authorities did not want to pay the architect in full. He turned to his brainchild: “Come with me!” In front of the amazed public, the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted. But, as we have the opportunity to verify, it did not move. And, of course, there was no way: after all, this is just a beautiful legend, which, however, contains a deep meaning. It is possible, some historians suggest, that the architect was indeed underpaid...

In the American city of Niles, in the state of Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), there is a double of the Pisan miracle - a water tower that exactly repeats the original, including in slope. True, in terms of its dimensions it is half as large. But the documentary “Life After People,” also American, talks about the destruction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which, according to the authors’ forecasts, will happen only in 250 years.

The famous Italian beauty also has world analogues. In the Netherlands, for example, this is the unfinished bell tower of Oldehove, located in the historical center of Leeuwarden, the capital of the province of Friesland. If we compare the two objects, it will not be in favor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the sense that Oldehove deviates even more from its central axis.

We have two more “leaning” towers in Russia, they are also often compared to the Pisa tower. The first is Syuyumbike, in the Kazan Kremlin (it was an observation structure, the first mention dates back to 1777). It deviates noticeably to the northeast side, and the slope of its spire is 1.98 m. The second is the Nevyansk Tower, located in the center of Nevyansk, Sverdlovsk region (built in 1721-1745 by order of the Russian entrepreneur Akinfiy Demidov). It deviates from the vertical by approximately 1.85 m.

But let's return to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Our “evasive” heroine has also made its way into animated films. It is mentioned in the popular Japanese animated series “Puss in Boots Around the World,” filmed back in 1969 by director Katsumata Tomohara. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is also present in such modern US cartoons as “Phineas and Ferb” (2007) and “The Adventures of Mr. Peabody and Sherman” (2014), where it is also mentioned.

How to get there, opening hours

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of an architectural complex located in Piazza dei Miracoli, a very large walled square whose name translates as “field of miracles.” In addition to the “leaning” tower, it includes: the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Ascension), the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the monumental cemetery of Campo Santo.

The city can be reached from Genoa by train in two hours. The fare is about 20 euros. A train leaves from Florence every half hour. The ticket costs approximately 8 euros and takes you to Pisa in an hour.

It takes longer to travel from Rome: by train the journey will take about three hours, the ticket will cost about 23 euros. The high-speed train will arrive an hour earlier, but the ticket costs 14 euros more. If you plan to stay in the city, a night in a hotel will cost 60-100 euros.

From Pisa Station you can reach the architectural complex on foot. The walk will take about half an hour. By public transport you can get to the Leaning Tower of Pisa much faster; you should get off at the Piza Rossore stop.

It is better to take care of tickets in advance, especially in the summer. The cost of visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 18 euros. Quite expensive, but municipal authorities are trying to compensate for the huge costs of restoration work in this way.

There is a toilet for visitors in the ticket office building. You can leave things in the storage rooms next door. No more than 40 visitors can be in the tower at a time. Access to the external observation decks starts from the fifth tier. For safety, fences and nets were installed here. If you overcome the 294-step climb, the upper observation deck will give you beautiful views of the city, and below, clearly visible, you will see a cathedral in the shape of a cross.

There are always a lot of tourists near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, who take bright, memorable, and sometimes funny photographs against the backdrop of the famous landmark. Someone is “supporting” the building, someone is trying to climb onto it. The unique architectural structure gives enormous scope for imagination.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is open to visitors in the summer (April-September) - from 8:30 to 20:30, in the winter (October-March) - from 9 to 17:00.

Night visits are available from June 14 to September 15. You can admire the picturesque views of the city during sunset; Pisa at night, lit up with lights, is also admirable.

On August 9, 1173, the first stone was laid for the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the most famous “leaning” tower in the world. It turns out that there are not so few such structures. You will learn about the ten most famous ones from our selection.

1. Suurhusen Church, Germany

Suurhusen is a late medieval building in the East Friesland region of northwestern Germany. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it was the most inclined tower in the world, although in 2010 the new Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi broke this record. The Suurhusen spire remains the world's most leaning tower, its tilt beating the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa by 1.22 degrees.

2. Big Ben, London, UK

The British Parliament Clock Tower (better known as Big Ben) is leaning 0.26 degrees or 43.5cm to the northwest, according to documents that were recently made public. The level of inclination has increased to 0.9 millimeters per year since 2003, affected by constant underground work and the London Underground.

3. Two Towers of Bologna, Italy

The two towers Asinelli and Garisenda in the city of Bologna are steadily falling despite all the efforts of the city authorities. The tall tower is called Asinelli, the smaller but more deviated Garisenda, its deviation from the vertical is already 3.22 m

4. Frankenhausen Church Tower, Germany

A tower on a hillside on the outskirts of the city is constantly exposed to strong winds. Engineers noticed that the rate at which the tower is now falling is 6 cm per year. In this case, it could reach a tipping point within the next decade or so. Local and state officials agreed to spend $1.5 million to try to stabilize the tower.

5. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Built on soft clay, the tower began to fall several years after construction began. When completed in 1350, the tower leaned about four and a half feet. By 1990, the tower had leaned another 15 feet, and authorities had spent nearly two million pounds of lead on ingots to be placed on one of its sides to prevent it from falling.

6. Nevyansk Tower, Russia

The Nevyansk Tower also falls. The tower is located in the center of Nevyansk and is one of the most famous in the Middle Urals. The construction was financed by Peter the Great and was built in the first half of the 18th century by the famous Russian builder Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the tower is 57.5 m. According to the latest measurements, the deviation of the top of the tower with a right angle is currently 2.20 m. The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, various historical sources mention dates between 1721 and 1745.

7. Tiger Hill Pagoda

Tiger Hill Pagoda or Huqiu Tower is located in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The tower was built during the later Five Dynasties period (907-960 AD). The tower rises at a height of 47 m. It is a seven-story building built in blue brick octagons. For more than a thousand years, the tower has gradually tilted due to the influence of natural forces. The tilt of the tower is 2.32 meters. The entire structure weighs about 7,000,000 kg.

8. Burana Tower, Italy

The Burana Tower, or the Church of St. Martino, is located on the Venetian island of Burana. The building was built in the 15th century, it does not fall because it rests on a nearby building

9. Oude Kerk, Netherlands

The Oude Kerk (Old Church), nicknamed Oude Jan ("Old John"), is a Gothic Protestant church in the old city center of Delft, the Netherlands. At 75 meters high, it is tilted 1.98 cm from the vertical.

10. Bedum Tower, Netherlands

The Bedum Tower in the northern Dutch town of Bedum also leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 55.86m high, the Tower of Pisa leans about 4m, while the Bedum Tower leans 2.61m (8.6 ft) at a height of 35.7m.

If you talk about Italy, and in particular about the city of Pisa, then the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is one of the most famous historical monuments of our time, regardless of what part of the planet you live in. Why is she so famous? There is no big secret about this - the fact is that it stands at an angle to the ground. It even gives the impression that the Tower is falling. But it is precisely this drawback of the Tower that attracts tourists from all over the world to Pisa. Perhaps if the Tower had not stood crookedly, no one would have wanted to look at it. Surely you will be interested to know that the Tower itself is not a separate structure. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of the architect's idea; it is only one element from a whole architectural collection. The tower in this Italian courtyard is not just a decoration, it is actually a huge bell tower, or as it was called - Campanella (translated from Italian it means “bell”). So, what is included in the so-called Pisa ensemble. The Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta), the gloomy cemetery of Campo Santo, the Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovann) and, of course, the square itself where all these objects have found their home - Piazza dei Miracoli are comfortably located here. (Square of Miracles). And the bell tower itself - it is located a little further away behind the north-eastern corner of the cathedral. Taken together, all these objects are rightfully considered one of the best architectural creations in all of Italy.

“A protracted miracle” - this is what local Italians sometimes jokingly call their main attraction in Pisa. The fact is that the Tower is falling and falling, but it still won’t fall - and all this has been going on for 8 long years. The fall continued to the present day, its deviation increased annually by 1 millimeter, and in total, from the beginning to the end of construction work, the tower tilted by 5 meters. This persistent Campanella is not a timid person. The structure even survived an earthquake, but the Tower still stands and today is open to visits by thousands of crowds of tourists. Everyone, of course, tries to take an original photo with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

From the history of the construction of the Tower

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is definitely a symbol of the entire city. And it became such from the very moment of its construction. And oh, so many years have passed since then. Construction of the structure began in August 1173. The city leadership looked for a nice green meadow on the outskirts, and it was here that the first brick of the bell tower was laid. 200 years - that’s how long it took to build the entire Tower. Of course, for various reasons the work was suspended, but in total this is the period of time. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in 1370.

Bonanno Pisano - according to historians who are in charge of this issue, it was this person who could be the original architect and author of the entire project. Unfortunately, this information has not reached us exactly until today, so this is only a basic theory. Was the Tower intentionally built at an angle, or was it all a flaw in the architect's plan? Today it is unlikely that this fact will be established reliably, but the second option is more likely to be true. Under the influence of soil displacement, the tower began to tilt. The architect did not take into account that this could happen, and as a result we have a tilted symbol of the city of Pisa.

The first floor was built, the colonnade was completed, and then the entire structure even then began to slope to the south. At the time the work began, it was only 4 centimeters - who would have noticed! But attention was paid, and construction was stopped for 100 years. In 1275, the Tower tilted by 50 centimeters, and then the builders decided to literally level this situation and place it vertically, as intended. When constructing all subsequent floors of the Tower, the height was increased by 10 centimeters on the inclined side. So within 5 floors it was planned to correct the situation. However, it soon became clear that this move was not very helpful. As a result, the Tower was 4 floors lower than planned.

Architectural features of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in the Romano-Pisan style, traditional for its times. This style has always been able to amaze its admirers with the grace of its lines and discreet beauty. All tiers of the erected and completed Tower today are 58 meters high and have a small tail of 36 centimeters. In the highest part it reaches a height of 56 meters, and the height in the lowest part is 55 meters and 90 centimeters.

The diameter of the entire bell tower at the base is 15 meters and has the shape of a cylinder. The walls at the base are 5 meters thick, and closer to the top they are 2 and a half meters thick. To climb to the top to the observation deck you need to overcome 294 steps, and then you will have a beautiful view of the Field of Miracles and the beautiful nearby surroundings.

The entire structure is built of stone, while the outside is covered with light gray and white marble. The entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is decorated with a large bas-relief and images of mythical animals. The six floors of the Tower are furnished with decorative Romanesque arches, which in their grace are very similar to Byzantine architecture. At the crown of the tilted creation there is a belfry, in which there are slots for seven bells. The weight of the bells in the Leaning Tower of Pisa varies from 300 kilograms to 3.5 tons. Today there are more bells, as new ones were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. The interesting thing is that today all these bells are working and delight locals and tourists with their ringing.

Bells of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

From the 13th century, or rather from the middle of it, builders began to cast bells, which would later take their place of honor in the Pisa bell tower. The first such bell could sound the note G-flat. His name was Pasquereccia. Bell number two was called Terza and its note is B sharp. This object of architectural thought saw the light of day in 1473. In 1501, a Vespruccio bell, small in size compared to the previous ones, was cast, which carried the note “E” around the area. The largest bell, Crocifisso, was made by the master Vincenzo Posenti, and subsequently it was melted down by Gualandi da Prato, and this was in 1818.

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 with the note B is the largest of the seven bells, 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.

The Assunta bell is capable, thanks to Giovanni Pietro Orlandi, of sounding the note B, and this particular bell is the largest of all seven. The last bell of the seven is the bell of San Ranieri (note D sharp). This one has been melted down many times. Today it is no longer possible to count which of them stands on the Tower.

Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa serves the existing cathedral with its bells. Before each service, everyone and just onlookers nearby can hear the bells ringing. Today all the bells ring at the same time, but in former times each of them was assigned its own liturgical hour.

Saving the tower from falling

Closer to modern times, a terrible strong hurricane occurred in Pisa, which changed the tilt of the Tower by 1 millimeter in one night. The city authorities faced a serious question - how to preserve the Tower and prevent it from falling. An interesting move was even made and a competition was organized, during which city residents were invited to send their options for saving the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But there was one main condition - the slope must be preserved, because it was in this incarnation that this architectural object became a symbol of the city. The proposals were very diverse and unusual.

A very original proposal was to place a would-be architect under the tower, who could not properly ensure that his Tower stood. There was also a proposal to attach a huge balloon to the top of the tower so that it would hold the tower in a tilted state. A lot of ideas were sent, which generally boiled down to the fact that there should be a second similar tower nearby, but its tilt should be in the opposite direction, that is, so that the two towers would eventually meet and support each other.

Anyone can visit the attraction, but to do this you will have to pay a lot for the entrance ticket. Nevertheless, more than ten million euros were spent on all work on the Tower, which today must be returned to the city budget. The ticket price is 20 euros, and everything suggests that it will only increase. It may be expensive here, but come to the Tower early, in the morning, and buy a ticket in advance; nevertheless, visiting hours here are scheduled a day in advance.

Tower from inside

So, you have handed over all your personal belongings to the storage room, taking only your camera and camera with you, now you can go inside the tower. The staircase here is very wide, and it leads up the circumference of the tower from the inside. Since you are constantly walking in a circle, these steps can make your head spin. The steps you have to climb are made of marble, which in some places is very worn down by the feet of crowds of visitors. The closer to the top, the narrower the staircase and in the end will be no more than 40 centimeters.

The inside of the tower is completely empty, and the staircase you have to walk on wraps around this emptiness, and through the small windows you can look out and see everything with your own eyes.

From the fifth tier, observation platforms begin that tourists can go out to. Everything here is equipped for safety reasons, so the observation decks are covered with mesh, which makes it difficult to take normal photos.

Climbing to the very top is not so easy for many tourists; some stop a couple of tiers before. But if you still climb to the very top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you definitely won’t regret it. The view here is simply stunning, and there is no net. That's how it is - a reward for your efforts.

If you come here in the evening, you can also visit the Santo Campo cemetery as part of the tour. Here on the walls there are mysterious frescoes that are illuminated very beautifully and invite you to deep thoughts about the meaning of life.

How to get to the tower

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 you are within walking distance of your destination

Pisa may be a small city, but among its attractions it can boast not only the famous Tower that never falls, so if you go to these parts, leave at least one whole day to visit all the surrounding areas.

Arriving at the Pisa train station, you can easily reach your destination on foot in about 40 minutes. If you are lazy, then welcome to city transport. 15 minutes and you are there. From the stop "Pisa Station" to the site there are just a few steps.