Leaning Tower of Pisa. When will it fall and whether it will fall at all? Falling towers in Russia

Excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Every visitor to the city of Pisa can climb this bell tower. The price of the excursion is 18 euros, and there are no children's tickets. Children under 8 years old are strictly prohibited from climbing here; teenagers under 18 years old can only go on an excursion if accompanied by an adult.

Tickets can be purchased online, but this is not so easy. The official website http://www.opapisa.it/ does not have a Russian version, but there is part of the site in English. Even if you know English language, you will not be able to buy tickets there. Tickets are only sold on the Italian part of the site. To buy a ticket, on this page - http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Turisti/ click on the word PURCHASE, which is located directly under the British flag. Next, you will need to select a ticket and pay for it using a credit card.

The administration warns:

It is strictly prohibited to bring any bags or other items on the tour. An exception is made only for photo and video cameras. All items can be put in a special wardrobe.

It is strictly forbidden to walk along the vernal passages. Although many tourists go.

It is forbidden to pass under the bells, it is forbidden to ring the bells.

There are still railings on the 7th and 8th floors, but you can’t lean over them either.

Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not recommended for people with a fear of heights.

Also keep in mind that the tower is more than 50 meters high and there are 296 steps leading up. You will have to go through them all on foot, rely on your strength.

There are seven bells in total, and they form a scale of notes. Theoretically, they could play music, but they don't.

This is where the tour ends. It is difficult to say how unforgettable the experience you will get from climbing to the very top. In fact, there is nothing very unusual in an excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, just “check the box” that you were at the most popular attraction in Italy.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually leaned until 2008. In 1964, the Italian government proposed to completely straighten the structure, but the city authorities categorically refused, since it was the leaning tower that attracted tourists.

In 2008, when the angle of inclination reached 5.5 degrees, it was decided to straighten it a little.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted? And how the tilt was corrected.

The project of the bell tower for the Cathedral of Pisa was unsuccessful. The depth of the foundation was only three meters, which was clearly not enough for a structure more than 50 meters high. The fact that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was crooked was noticed almost immediately, but they did not pay serious attention since the war began.

The leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa increased, but very slowly, and in the 20th century it had already become dangerous, amounting to 5.5 degrees. Something had to be done urgently, and in 1990 a complex engineering operation began to level the building.

This was the second such operation. The first was carried out in the 19th century, when groundwater was removed from under the foundation, but this did not help.

It’s worth saying right away that no one set out to make the bell tower completely straight, since this is not interesting to the authorities of the city of Pisa. They want the leaning tower because it is what attracts tourists.

Of course, no excavators were used. The soil was removed slowly and carefully using special pipes.

In 2001, engineers announced that the Leaning Tower of Pisa had stabilized its tilt and would not fall for the next 300 years. Responsible for the project were: Professor Michel Jamiolkowski of the Polytechnic University of Turin and Professor Carlo Viggiani of the University of Naples.

We will end this article with the exact characteristics of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, given in the table:

Have a good time visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa and read about other attractions of Italy in our articles ( links below).

The most famous landmark of the city of Pisa is its Tower. It is known primarily for the fact that it does not stand strictly vertically, but at an angle from the main axis. After all, if it were not for this flaw, it is unlikely that crowds of thousands of tourists would come every year to look at this “falling” landmark that has become a global landmark.

Not everyone knows that the “leaning” tower is not a separate structure, but part of an architectural ensemble. In addition to the tower itself, which is actually a bell tower or campanella (from the Italian word campanella, What means bell), it includes (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta), (Battistero di San Giovanni), (Campo Santo) and (Piazza dei Miracoli) on which it is all located. The bell tower is located near the northeast corner of the cathedral. And the entire ensemble is considered a world masterpiece of Italian architecture of the Middle Ages, which had a great influence on the development of culture in Italy.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has been falling for eight centuries. Because of this, the Italians themselves call it a “protracted miracle.” The deviation increases by one millimeter every year. In total, the building deviated from its axis by more than five meters, which is not so little. But, no matter what, the campanella survived even today and is open to the public.

Since its construction, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has become almost a symbol of the city. Its construction began in August 1173, in the middle of a green meadow on the outskirts of Pisa, along with the city's cathedral and baptismal church. Including interruptions, the duration of the work was about two centuries. The bell tower was finally ready in 1370.

It is not known for certain who was the author of the original project. However, historical chronicles suggest that it could be Bonanno Pisano ( Bonanno Pisano ) . Today, it is no longer possible to determine whether the curvature of the building was intended initially or was formed as a result of soil subsidence. Although the second option looks more plausible. Most likely, the original project was already mistaken in some ways. And the tower was originally planned as vertical.

However, almost immediately after the construction of the first floor with a colonnade 11 meters high, the structure began to tilt towards the south. And at first it was only four centimeters. After this, construction work was suspended and resumed only 100 years later. In 1275, when the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was already 50 centimeters, they tried to correct the situation. For this purpose, when constructing subsequent floors, an excess of 10 centimeters in height on the side of the roll was taken into account. Unfortunately, this did not help much, and the construction of the bell tower had to be stopped ahead of schedule, reducing it by four floors from the original project.

Architectural features

The Romano-Pisan style of the Leaning Tower of Pisa amazes everyone with its grace and beauty. The height of its eight tiers after completion of construction was 58 meters 36 centimeters. In the highest part the height is 56 meters 70 centimeters, and in the lowest part - 55 meters 90 centimeters.

The diameter of the base of the bell tower, which has a cylindrical shape, is 15 meters 54 centimeters. The thickness of the external walls at the base is 4 meters 90 centimeters, and at the top - 2 meters 48 centimeters. Its deviation from the vertical axis at the base level is 4 meters, and at the top level - 5 meters 30 centimeters. The campanella is raised to the upper level 294 steps. And from there, tourists who have completed the climb will see beautiful view on the Field of Miracles and the immediate surroundings.

Bells

The very first one was cast in the mid-13th century. His note is G-flat, and his name is Pasquereccia ( Pasquereccia). Second Terza ( Terza) with the note B sharp appeared in 1473. Little Vespuccio ( Vespruccio) with the note E was smelted in 1501. Crocifisso ( Crocifisso) with the note C-sharp was made by master Vincenzo Posenti ( Vincenzo Posenti), and in 1818 it was melted down by Gualandi da Prato.

Dal Pozo ( 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 ( Assunta) with the note B - the largest of the seven bells, appeared 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.

Since the cathedral, to which the Pisa Bell Tower belongs, is active, before each mass, as well as at noon, everyone can hear the chime of these bells. It is interesting that in the Middle Ages the bells did not ring simultaneously, but each at its own specially established liturgical hour.

Tower Rescue

After the completion of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the city authorities faced a new problem: how to prevent it from falling?

This question became especially relevant after the hurricane that swept over Pisa and moved the tower by a fraction of a millimeter in just one day. For this purpose, a special competition was even announced among scientists, architects and just ordinary citizens, which accepted ideas for saving the tower. The main condition for stopping the “fall” was maintaining the slope of the structure. Indeed, by this time the “protracted miracle” had become a symbol of Pisa and its main attraction. In response to the call, many proposals were received, and everything was there.

For example, building a sculpture of a would-be architect near the tower so that he can hold his unsuccessful creation. Or attach a huge one to the top of the bell tower balloon, which would support the structure without allowing it to deviate. In one of the options, it was proposed to run a tram around the tower, which would compact the soil with its weight so that the tower would not shrink further. A number of ideas boiled down to building a similar one near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but tilted in the opposite direction so that they would support each other.

The strangest and most curious projects, of course, were abandoned. Leaving only those proposals that were based on scientific achievements. At the end of the 20th century, the incredible efforts of scientists yielded results. It was found that under the southern side of the foundation the soil is much softer compared to the northern side. With the help of additional steel cables, insuring the structure from falling, part of the soil from under the northern foundation was very carefully and painstakingly removed. As a result of the subsidence of the tower after preparatory work on the north side, the slope was reduced by about 50 centimeters, rejuvenating the tower by a couple of hundred years. After this, the cables, counterweights and supports were removed. Today, the pride of Pisa is in almost stable condition.

Working hours

Due to the threat of destruction, visiting the campanella was banned in 1990. The re-opening took place in December 2001.

Today the Leaning Tower of Pisa is ready to receive tourists all year round.

• April-September: from 8-30 to 20-30.
• October-March: from 9-00 to 17-00.

From June 14 to September 15 there are separate night visits. From closing until 23-00. This initiative was introduced to allow tourists to enjoy the view from the observation deck of the Leaning Tower of Pisa at sunset. At this time, the city is illuminated with a thousand lights and appears in a completely different image.

Official website of the Leaning Tower of Pisa: www.opapisa.it/it/la-piazza-dei-miracoli/torre-pendente/larchitettura.html

How to get inside - ticket prices

Due to the fact that tens of millions of euros were spent on trying to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the cost of visiting this attraction is also quite high. Today it is 18 euros and, according to forecasts, can only increase. If you decide to visit inside, do not forget that no more than 30-40 people can be there at the same time.

Despite the considerable cost, it is still worth taking care of tickets in advance. Excursions are most often already scheduled a day in advance. And coming to the tower early in the morning, you will, at best, have the opportunity to take a ticket for the evening. In summer, the situation only becomes more complicated.

Tower from inside

It is worth arriving at the starting point of the excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in advance. This is due to the fact that you will (necessarily) have to hand over all your belongings to the storage room (it is located in the next building). You can only take a photo or video camera with you. And women's handbags (including the smallest ones) are strictly prohibited.

Perhaps this is done so that visitors to the tower do not have the desire to put themselves in Galileo’s place and throw something off the top.

Upon entering, you can see that the foot of the stairs is quite wide. It rises up the inner circumference of the tower. Despite the fairly comfortable steps, many people experience dizziness after a while. I always want to grab the walls on both sides so as not to fall. The steps are made of natural marble. However, since this material is mainly used for decorative purposes, it could not withstand the pressure of millions of visitors, and in some places it is severely worn out. With each step, the width of the stairs decreases. On the last tier it is about 40 centimeters.

The inside of the tower is hollow and the staircase wraps around it in a spiral. There are observation windows along the inner wall that allow you to look into this frightening emptiness. After the fifth tier it is allowed to go to the outside observation decks. For reliability and safety, they are covered with mesh and fences. Some remain in the belfry (penultimate tier) and do not rise to the very top. But in vain. Because for those who overcome the final test, the view is simply breathtaking. There is no mesh, and the height of the fence is only waist-high. Nothing prevents you from enjoying the view. From above, the cross of the cathedral is clearly visible. And only at the very top can you realize how uneven the surface is under your feet.

After the pleasure you have received, you should take a deep breath and prepare for the final test - the descent down. On each tier there are special people regulating one-way traffic. That is, the movement alternates either up or down. It's more difficult to go down. Worn marble is an excellent basis for sliding, increasing the chance of sliding down. So be very careful.

If you don’t feel the strength to rise to the top, try visiting the “Hall of Fish”. The room was named so because of the fish depicted on the bas-relief located inside. The hall was closed to visitors for a long time due to the instruments located in it, with the help of which the tilt of the tower was constantly monitored. A hole in the ceiling allows you to watch the starry sky over Pisa during a night visit to the tower.

An evening visit to the campanella includes a tour of the Santo Campo Memorial Cemetery. It is used not only for burying the dead, but also for life training seminars. There you can examine and ponder the cycles of frescoes on the walls, which have special lighting.

How to get to the tower

• The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located at: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa

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 the Pisa Rossore station, from which it is just a stone's throw from where you want to go.

• See instructions:

Why does it fall

There is an interesting story connected with the appearance of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It tells the story of how Master Pisano was asked to design and build a bell tower for a cathedral under construction. The architect did his best. He erected an elegant tower straight as an arrow. However, the Catholic clergy who ordered this work did not want to pay the master. The disgruntled architect turned around to leave. But finally, he turned around, waved his hand and said to the tower: “Come with me!” And in front of surprised witnesses, the campanile bent down in an attempt to take the first step.

Galileo

It is also reliably known that it was in Pisa in 1564 that the future famous scientist was born - Galileo Galilei ( Galileo Galilei) . Historical chronicles tell us that at that time a simple physicist and philosopher conducted various experiments with the help of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He threw objects of varying weights and volumes down from the top of the bell tower in order to prove his theory that the weight of a body falling down does not affect the speed of the fall.

Everything architectural complex, which includes the Leaning Tower of Pisa, was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO at the end of 1986.

It turns out there are three of them

Surprisingly, there are not one “falling” buildings, namely bell towers in Pisa, but three. We have already discussed the first in detail. The second is located in the pine park area of ​​Piagge (le Piagge). This is the campanile of the Church of St. Michael ( San Michele degli Scalzi).

The third bell tower was lost on oldest street city ​​and belongs to the Church of St. Nicholas ( San Nicola). Its curvature is not so “catchy” because of the dense surrounding of other buildings. All the structures tilted at the time of construction in the distant past due to the heterogeneity of the soil and groundwater.

In total, about 300 “leaning” towers can be found in the world. Among them are the clock tower in Izmir (Turkey), Big Ben (England), the towers of Bologna, the Nevyansk tower (Russia). However, it is the “falling” one that has gained the greatest worldwide fame. Leaning Tower of Pisa ( Torre pendente di Pisa) .

Photo against the background

And finally, a reminder: don’t forget about the Pisa “falling” beauty. After all, photos against her background have become almost classics. With some effort, you may even be able to straighten the tower. After all, the angle of inclination in the photo will depend on the side from which the photo was taken. For example, if you stand on the north or south side of the campanile, then next to you there will be an absolutely level structure. But the western and eastern sides provide the opportunity to see the “zest” of the attraction in all its glory. By showing your imagination or at least wandering through the Internet, you will undoubtedly be able to create your own composition with the Pisa Bell Tower.

How to get to Pisa

• from Rome: fastest by high speed train with central station Roma Termini FRECCIABIANCA for 37 euros - travel time 3 hours, or regional for 23 euros - 4 hours. If you plan your trip 2-3 months in advance, you can buy a high-speed train ticket for only 9 euros. Also, the train, costing 22 euros, departs daily from Roma Trastevere station. Tickets can be purchased directly at the station up to 7 days in advance.
• from Florence: From the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station there is a train that costs 8 euros every day, 2 times an hour, the travel time is about an hour.
• from Milan: from Milano Centrale station the fastest way is by train FRECCIAROSSA with a transfer to the train in Florence at the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Travel time is a little over 3 hours. Cost 48-65 euros (27-37 euros for 3 months) depending on the time of day. A less fast option is a regional train for 34 euros (9 euros in advance), the journey takes 4 hours.
• from Rimini: most likely you will have to travel with transfers in Bologna and Florence, since direct message No. The journey will take you about 4 hours. One-way tickets cost 39-53 euros. An alternative option is to rent a car at the airport for 50-60 euros per day and get there on your own without being tied to trains. .
• from Genoa: from Genova Piazza Principe station by regional or by high speed train for 15-20 euros. Travel time is about 2 hours.

Specify current schedule trains in Italy can be found on the official website in the TUTTI I TRENI section. See instructions without intermediaries.

Where to stay in Pisa?

Most often, tourists come to Pisa for one day, this option allows you to tick off and take a photo with the leaning tower in the background, but in order to visit other equally significant attractions of the city and feel its atmosphere, we recommend that you stay in Pisa for at least 1 day by booking hotel on Booking.com. The cost of decent accommodation options is between 60-100 euros. You can find a hotel near the tower using a special link. As an idea: come to Pisa at lunchtime, walk around the city, look around, have dinner in the evening, and at dawn take a walk and take a photo at the most popular places. Next to the hotel for breakfast and home.

Happy travels and photography!

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To the question “Where is the leaning tower located?” People answer “In Pisa” without hesitation. And indeed, its name has become a household name, and the tower itself has become a legend, which is sought after from all corners of the Earth.

However, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is far from the only architectural oddity. Around the world they have tilted enough different countries. Including domestic production. Of course, they do not attract such a huge number of tourists as their most famous Italian competitor, although the story of their falls is no less interesting and is shrouded in myths and fairy tales.

1. Nevyansk Tower

Nevyansk, Sverdlovsk region

The famous Nevyansk leaning tower, a symbol of the city of Nevyansk, is perhaps known not only for its inclination, but also for its mysteries. Their number per square meter of area is simply off scale. Take, for example, the fact that it is not known for certain who built it and when. It is now generally accepted that it was most likely 1725. Although some scientists argue that it could have been 1730 or 1722. However, first things first.

So, the legendary founder of the mining industry, Akinfiy Demidov, in the mid-20s ordered the construction of a stone manor house, a factory office and, next to the wooden Church of the Transfiguration that already existed on the territory of the factory, a tower bell tower. It was built from heel bricks. That is, they kneaded the clay dough with their heels, picking out the small pebbles that had been pushed in there, which were perfectly felt in this way. That's why the name.

For a special strength, egg white was used. But the main qualitative test of strength was ahead.

After the brick was made, it was thrown from a 12-meter wooden tower and only if it remained safe and sound was it used for construction.

So, to put it bluntly, it was not very easy for bricks to go down in history. By the way, according to one legend, the fate of the brick befell the architect himself, who, on Demidov’s instructions, was thrown from the balcony of his own brainchild. However, there is no name of the architect or documentary evidence of this legend. But the practice in general was typical for that time.

The tower itself is a square base on which three octagons are installed like a snowman: that is, each next one is smaller than the previous one. The tower is crowned with a cone with a weather vane flag, which sways at the slightest breeze, despite all its weight. This is the main confirmation that the tower is not falling, but rather inclined, and perhaps it was intended that way.

Simply put, if the tower were tilted any number of degrees, the weather vane would not be able to rotate. He, too, would have glanced sideways and froze forever.

At the base of the tower there was Demidov’s own office, laboratory, archive and the so-called “hearing room” - a coveted curiosity for tourists. The fact is that, thanks to the original shape of the ceiling, there is an auditory anomaly in the room: if two people stand in different corners of the room and begin to say something in a whisper, then each in his corner will hear the other’s whisper, while in the center of the room there is no nothing will be heard. Here, according to legend, Demidov brought his “business” partners, auditors and all sorts of enemies and hypocrites, and listened carefully to what they were whispering about in the corners.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the tower clock, or rather the clock mechanism of the famous English chimes. Their clock drum was programmed with 18 English melodies, and 10 bells played them methodically. By the way, the mechanism is alive and well, it still works, although it plays not the 18 melodies for which Demidov actually paid, but the “Life for the Tsar” supplemented in 1965.

Main versions of tower tilt

There are several versions about the reasons for the tilt of the tower, but none has been confirmed. Some say that the tower was originally designed and built obliquely to annoy foreigners with their Leaning Tower of Pisa, some put forward versions that during the construction of the base under the tower the ground subsided greatly and the building tilted. The builders continued its construction, trying to straighten it as much as possible, which is why a very characteristic saber-shaped slope is visible there.

There is another version related directly to Demidov’s activities. Allegedly, in his laboratory on one of the floors he minted counterfeit money, and evidence of this is the remains of particles of silver and gold found in the furnace soot on the walls. When it became known that an auditor was coming to these metas for an inspection, Demidov ordered the laboratory to be flooded and secret passages, leading underground to the tower from their house. The building could not withstand such an amount of moisture, the foundation sank and a characteristic slope appeared. In general, there is still something to think about and something for scientists to reflect on when tapping thick walls and exploring basements.

However, the last riddle towers is really puzzling: the spire of the bell tower has since then been connected to grounding, that is, its lightning rod appeared on it a quarter before it was created by Benjamin Franklin. This is truly obvious and incredible!

Currently, the tower building houses the main exhibition of the Nevyansk Historical and Architectural Museum and all floors are available for visits.

Nevyansk Historical and Architectural Museum, Sverdlovsk region, Nevyansk, Demidov Square, 3, www.museum-nev.ru

2. Solikamsk Bell Tower

Solikamsk, Perm region

The belfry of two cathedrals at once - Trinity and Holy Cross Cathedrals in the center of the city of Solikamsk also became famous due to its almost two-meter deviation. The construction of the belfry began in 1713, however, it proceeded intermittently and so slowly that it seems that the tower itself was tired of it: under the influence of groundwater, it was slightly askew.

Falling is not the only feature of the Solikamsk bell tower. Its layout itself deserves special attention. It consists of a huge cube, a base and, in fact, the tower itself, made in the shape of an octagon. In order for the base to withstand such a colossal load, its walls are unusually thick: the internal ones reach up to 3 meters.

It is also interesting that the stone base of the tower was originally planned for various city needs.

The magistrate, the court, and the city council were located here at different times.

Subsequently, the first floor of the building was used for storage rooms, and later, when Solikamsk trade began to decline, it was used for arrest cells. Immediately after the revolution, the bell tower was occupied, making it a temporary dormitory. But then it got even worse: at the end of the 1920s, the first two floors began to be used to hold prisoners transferred to Vishera.

The premises inside the bell tower were finally destroyed in 1931, when people simply had nothing to heat the stoves with. Stairs, ceilings, floors and all the furniture remaining at that time were thrown into the fire. The tower was finally “finished off” by the careless removal of the bells - the decorative decoration that glorified it was almost completely destroyed. Endless warehouses, printing houses, factories, which were located in the tower at different time intervals, methodically destroyed and collapsed the building: the foundation was partially destroyed, huge cracks appeared on the walls, and the facades themselves were practically lost. However, restoration got here only in the 1950s, and in recent years the bell tower has been almost completely restored.

By the way, this is one of those rare cases when modern restoration has benefited the monument. Currently in the tower is local history museum Solikamsk region, and the bell tower itself is used as an observation deck.

Solikamsk Museum of Local Lore, Solikamsk, st. Embankment, 93, www.skm.solkam.ru

3. Syuyumbike Tower

Kazan

Another leaning tower is located in the Kazan Kremlin - the heart of the Republic of Tatarstan. It was built exclusively as a guardhouse and therefore is located at some distance from the fortress walls. It consists of seven different tiers: the lower three are square, then 4 octahedrons are placed on them according to the principle of reduction. The deflection angle of the spire is almost 2 meters and is clearly visible to the naked eye.

Unfortunately, it has still not been possible to determine the exact year of its construction, as well as the name of the architect. There are many hypotheses and scientific discussions on this matter. Today, the building is officially dated back to the 17th century. This date is also indicated in all Kazan guidebooks. In general, no matter where you point it, everything is a mystery. And who built it, and when, and how long ago did it begin to bend? Even the reason for this name remains not entirely clear. All that remains is to remember the folk legends that, perhaps, every resident of Kazan knows.

Who is it named after?

Once upon a time there lived Queen Syuyuk, the ruler of the Kazan Khanate. The queen was so kind, beautiful and fair that the people nicknamed her Syuyumbike - “beloved lady.”

However, Ivan the Terrible heard about the beautiful ruler, who decided to marry again, and proposed marriage to her. But Syuyumbike refused the groom, who was not to her heart. Then the formidable king himself came to the walls of Kazan with a huge army and invited Syuyumbika to think twice about his proposals, and so that she would not refuse again, he promised to destroy the city to the ground. The kind Syuyumbike decided to protect the residents from a destructive future and agreed to marry Ivan the Terrible, and as a gift asked to build a tower for her. According to legend, this tower was supposed to be built in 7 days, which was done. And after that, they threw a wedding feast. Before leaving, Syuyumbike climbed her tower to say goodbye to her beloved city, which she would never see again, and threw herself down from the top.

It remains to be said that business card The city has undergone several restorations and cosmetic repairs. The largest one was carried out even before the revolution - then the lower tier was strengthened with a special steel bandage at the level of the heel of the arch, which significantly distorted the appearance of Syuyumbike, but implied additional strengthening and supposedly prevented greater rooting. After so many years, the bandage has, of course, become unusable, but no one has yet decided to remove it.

Currently, the tower is used as a minaret for reciting the azan during funeral prayers in honor of the victims of 1552. In this regard, its spire in 1993 was crowned with a gilded crescent.

State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve Kazan Kremlin, Kazan, www.kazan-kremlin.ru

Traveling around Italy, many tourists rush to get to the city Pisa to see with your own eyes one of the Italian wonders - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Leaning Tower of Pisa- This is the so-called leaning tower.

What is a "leaning tower"?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy has gained worldwide fame due to its leaning, but there are many other leaning and leaning towers built in different parts of the world. In the same Italy, there are several more leaning towers; also leaning and leaning towers can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and many other countries.

Leaning and leaning towers in Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa- This is the eight-story bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral. The height of the building is approximately 56.7 meters, and the angle of inclination is 3° 54". The bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral was built intermittently for almost two centuries from 1173 to 1360. The tilt of the tower appeared after the construction of the third floor. The reason for the tilt of the building is the small foundation and unsuitable to compensate for the tilt, the upper floors were built with higher corridor ceilings on the side towards which the tower leaned, which led to curvature relative to the axis of symmetry. The last floor was built with an even greater bend, but this approach did not produce results, and the tower was built. it turned out to be inclined. Until the twentieth century, the Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually “fell”, deviating by about one millimeter from the vertical per year. And only at the beginning of the 21st century it was possible to stop the “fall” of the tower and even reduce the angle of inclination from 5° 30 "to 3°. 54" by excavating under the foundation.

Sometimes Italians make fun of tourists, telling how the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa appeared:

“The architect Bonnano Pisano, at the request of the Catholic priests, built an elegant and completely straight bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral. The bell tower amazed with its grandeur and beauty. But the stingy Catholic priests refused to pay the architect for the work. Then Pisano approached the tower and said: “Follow me!” The bell tower tried to follow its creator and bent."

These days the name " Leaning Tower of Pisa“has become a household word: now this is the name given to unstable vertical structures or structures that have noticeably deviated from the vertical.

Two Italian leaning towers are located in the city center Bologna. Towers Asinelli (Asinelli) And Garisenda (Garisenda), named after the families of the first owners, were built in the 12th century. In medieval Bologna, rich families competed with each other, trying to build the most high tower. First, the Asinelli Tower appeared in the city center, which after construction tilted to the side due to uneven settlement of the soil under the foundation. Then came the Garisenda Tower, which was deliberately built slanted, mocking the neighboring tower. After construction was completed, the Garisenda was shortened several times to avoid collapse due to its critical slope. The height of the Asinelli tower is approximately 97.2 meters, and the angle of inclination is 1° 18". Asinelli is the tallest ancient leaning tower in the world. Garisenda is half the height of its neighbor (about 48 meters), but it tilts more to the side: towards our days, the deviation from the vertical at the top point of the tower is about three meters. But at the beginning of the 14th century. Alighieri Dante in his poem " The Divine Comedy ” described only a slight deviation:

"Like Garisenda, if you stand under the overhang,
The summit seems to be falling little by little
Towards a cloud in the heights of heaven..."

Leaning and leaning towers in Germany

Germany also has leaning and leaning towers, and one of them even made it into the Guinness Book of Records. Bell tower of the church in the village of Zuurhusen (Suurhusen) deviated from the vertical at an angle of 5° 12", respectively, this is the most inclined ancient leaning tower in the world. The church building in Zuurhusen was built in the 13th century, and the bell tower was added later - in the 15th century. After construction, the bell tower began to tilt to the side due to due to the uneven settlement of the building, it was possible to stop the “fall” only at the end of the twentieth century.

Bell tower of the Upper Church in Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäuser

Upper Church V Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäuser was built in the 14th century. Since then, the church tower has been continuously leaning towards the ground. The angle of inclination of the tower is already greater than the inclination of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, but the “fall” still cannot be stopped.

Leaning and leaning towers in the Netherlands

Oldehowe Tower

Oldehowe Tower- an unfinished bell tower in the center of a Dutch city Leeuwarden. Construction of the building began in the 16th century. Local residents wanted to add a bell tower to their church, which would surpass the height of the bell tower of St. Martin's Church in the neighboring town Groningen. The tower began to tilt already at the initial stage of construction. Noticing this, the builders tried to compensate for the tilt by completing the upper level, which is why the tower became not only inclined, but also crooked. As a result, the construction of the bell tower, which reached a height of about forty meters, had to be stopped, and the church was completely dismantled due to the danger of collapse.

Bell tower of the Old Church in Delft

Oude Kerk(translated from Dutch - Old Church) - a Gothic church in a Dutch city Delft. The church was built in the 13th century, and in the 14th century a bell tower was added to it. Over time, the 75-meter bell tower deviated from the vertical by almost 2 meters (angle of inclination - 1° 30").

Leaning and leaning towers in Russia

Tower Syuyumbike

One of the Russian leaning towers is located in the third capital of Russia -. Tower Syuyumbike- inclined watchtower of the Kazan Kremlin. The height of the building is approximately 58 meters, and the deviation of the top of the spire from the vertical is 1.98 meters. The date of construction of the tower still remains a mystery. There are many legends about this Kazan skyscraper, but most of them are just fiction. For example, according to one legend, the tower was built by order of Ivan the Terrible in seven days - one tier per day. I wish I could bend over after such high-speed construction! Nowadays, the inclined Syuyumbike tower is a recognized architectural symbol of Kazan and is widely known far beyond the borders of Tatarstan.

Nevyansk Tower

Nevyansk Tower- a leaning tower located in the center of the Ural city Nevyansk. The tower was built at the beginning of the 18th century by order of the famous industrialist Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the building is 57.5 meters, and the deviation of the tower from the vertical at the top point is approximately 1.85 meters. The angle of inclination of the building from the lower to the upper tier decreases, so it can be assumed that during construction the workers tried to compensate for the error made at the stage of laying the foundation and during construction lower level tower walls. Thus, the upper tiers were built with a tilt in the opposite direction, which is why the tower acquired a saber-shaped bend. However, there is also an opinion that the building was deliberately built inclined so that Nevyansk could have its own Leaning Tower of Pisa. Also, a legend is sometimes told that the tilt of the tower appeared after Demidov, fearing an inspection by an auditor, ordered the basement of the building in which he allegedly minted counterfeit coins to be flooded. The legend about the flooded basement is just one of many legends about the tower in Nevyansk. Mysticism and mysteries surround this sloping Ural high-rise building. For example, after the construction of the tower, grounding was connected to its spire, that is, the building was equipped with a lightning rod a quarter of a century before it was invented by Benjamin Franklin. Visitors to the tower are also amazed by the so-called “ acoustic room”, in which, standing in one corner, you can clearly hear what is being said in a whisper in the opposite corner. It is also worth mentioning the unique English chiming clock mounted on the tower. The Nevyansk Tower is one of the most mysterious leaning towers in the world, although it is not the tallest or most inclined.

More falling towers can be found in Solikamsk, Kungur and some other Russian cities.

Leaning and Leaning Towers in China

Tiger Hill Pagoda

Tiger Hill Pagoda- an inclined tower in China, it is often called that way: “ Leaning Tower of China" The tower was built in the 10th century, and in the 17th century the tower was lengthened by adding an extension on top. As a result, the height of the tower is approximately 47 meters, while the deviation from the vertical is 2.32 meters, that is, the angle of inclination of the tower is almost 3 degrees. The “fall” of the tower was stopped in the middle of the twentieth century, and now the tower is in a stable equilibrium position.

Leaning and leaning towers in the UAE

Capital Gate

More often ancient towers became falling and inclined due to miscalculations of architects and builders, but today engineers deliberately build inclined buildings. Capital Gate, better known as Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, is a modern tilting skyscraper in the capital of the United United Arab Emirates. The height of the building is 160 meters, and the angle of inclination is 18 degrees. The skyscraper is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the building with the greatest angle of inclination in the world.

Leaning and leaning towers in the UK

Big Ben

Surprisingly, one of the most recognizable symbols of Great Britain is Big Ben (Big Ben) is also a leaning tower. The inclination of the 96-meter Big Ben is only 0° 15", and the deviation from the vertical is 0.44 meters. Visually, the inclination is not even noticeable. It is only a stretch to call Big Ben a leaning tower, but it is also impossible to say that the tower is not tilted at all .

The most falling towers

So, let's summarize:

The most famous leaning tower in the world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy).

The tallest ancient leaning tower in the world is the Asinelli Tower in Bologna (Italy).
The height of the tower is approximately 97.2 meters.

The most inclined ancient leaning tower in the world is the bell tower of the church in the village of Zuurhusen (Germany).
The tilt angle of the tower is 5° 12".

One of the most mysterious leaning towers in the world is the Nevyansk Tower (Russia).

Most oblique modern building in the world - the Capital Gate skyscraper in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
The tilt angle of the building is 18 degrees.

And finally, you don’t have to go to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, because you can find such a unique landmark somewhere closer.

Leaning towers on the world map

Travel from A to Z:

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a wonderful architectural structure of medieval architects, which is on the list of “must-sees” for every traveler in Italy. It is amazing that this building has survived to this day, despite many difficulties and historical vicissitudes.

The government was in a panic, believing that the building would collapse. But at that moment another war began between the Italian states, and the tower was forgotten for a long time - almost 100 years. During this time, the ground beneath it settled a little and became compacted.

In 1272, after the end of the war, the engineer Giovanni di Simone continued construction. Under his leadership, four more floors were erected. Di Simone tried to compensate for the slope by making one side of the upper floors taller than the other. However, the additional weight of the new floors made the tower lean even further.

The second time construction was suspended during the naval battle of Meloria (1284), when the Pisans lost their entire fleet and many people captured in the battle with Genoa.

Two spiral staircases were also built in the building, leading to rooms with bells. There were seven of them installed in total, the largest weighing 3600 kilograms.

During World War II, when Allied forces landed in Italy, Americans issued orders to destroy any large buildings for fear of saboteur snipers who used tall buildings to make sneak attacks. But before the tower in Pisa was destroyed, the order was canceled. But still, many monuments of Italian architecture were blown up.

All the bells were removed from the bell tower at the top. After all, they could potentially aggravate the situation and lead to an increase in slope.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was reopened to tourists in 2001. It was strengthened so well that, according to scientists, its reconstruction cannot be interfered with for the next 200 years. And if the slope does increase, it will only add interest to this interesting architectural monument.

It turns out that in one of the Russian cities in the Urals.