The Leaning Tower of Pisa is all about it. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a falling beauty. Food prices

One of the most popular architectural landmarks in Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Its construction continued intermittently for almost 2 centuries - from 1173 to 1360. Few people know that the tower is part of the city Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, or rather its bell tower. It attracts tourists due to its original unintentional slope. And it is unlikely that the Leaning Tower of Pisa would have been so popular if it had been level.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted?

At the site where the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands, silty and clayey soil predominates, which is why it began to tilt to the south at the very beginning of construction. The height of the foundation is only three meters, combined with soft soil - this led to the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In just 10 years, the foundation sank by as much as 30-40 cm.

Over 8 centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has deviated from the vertical axis by more than five meters - every year it sags by another 1 mm. The difference between the levels of the southern and northern parts of the foundation is more than two meters.

The construction project was initially erroneous, so the version that such a slope was intended by the architects is not correct. But this mistake, apparently, only played into the hands of the attraction.

Why doesn't the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall? The fact is that its center of gravity is located above the foundation. This was achieved thanks to builders who tried to level the bell tower over the centuries. Its tilt either increases or decreases - all this due to the displacement of soil, groundwater and the intervention of builders.

From 2002 to 2010, the tower was restored, as a result of which the angle of inclination in degrees was reduced from 5° 30" to 3° 54".

History of construction

Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa began on August 9, 1173, a century after the construction of the Pisa Cathedral. According to some sources, the creator of the project is the architect Bonnano Pisano, but this is unreliable.

Even when the foundation was being laid, it was discovered that the clay soil under the bell tower was subsiding, and construction stopped for a year. By 1178, three floors of the tower had already been erected - the structure began to tilt to the south, and this time construction was postponed for almost 100 years.

In 1272, when the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was 50 cm, construction resumed. Giovanni di Simone was appointed project manager. By 1284, the height of the tower was already 48 meters; six floors with loggias and galleries were built. Despite the fact that Giovanni di Simone tried to straighten the axis of the building, the deviation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa still continued. The tower already had a tilt of 90 cm from the vertical axis - and again construction was suspended.

In 1319, the 7th floor of the bell tower was built, and in 1360 - the last, 8th floor (bell tower). By this time it was already almost 1.5 m.

Despite the fact that the work was completed and in total the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa lasted 187 years, in the future it still succumbed to experiments in leveling. In the mid-20th century, a special commission was created to prevent the destruction of the local landmark. To this day, restoration work continues unceasingly, underground work necessary to strengthen the foundation and maintain the stability of the curve of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Description of the Leaning Tower of Pisa - what's inside

Inside the tower there are galleries connected by arches, there is also a spacious hall, the walls of which are lined with bas-reliefs depicting mythical animals, three spiral staircases and at the very top - a belfry with arches for seven bells. All bells are in working order and can be heard at noon and before every mass in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

The style of architecture in the Leaning Tower of Pisa is Romanesque-Pisan, the walls are made of stone and decorated with light gray and white marble. There is a hall with an open ceiling, during a night visit to the Leaning Tower, you can watch the starry sky over Pisa from inside.

There are 294 steps made of natural marble leading to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Towards the top, the width of the stairs decreases; on the last tier, the width of the steps is only 40 cm. Therefore, tourists take turns moving either up or down - there are special staff to regulate the movement.

Looking through the observation windows on the interior walls, you can see that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is empty inside. Starting from the fifth tier, it is possible to go out to observation platforms equipped with a fencing net. On the eighth floor there is no grid and from the height there is a magnificent view of the surrounding area - the Field of Miracles.

The experiment of the scientist Galileo

The experiment of the physicist and philosopher Galileo Galilei, a native of the city of Pisa, was to test the speed of falling objects of different weights. Before this, there was a point of view that heavy bodies fall from heights faster than light ones. To conduct the experiment, Galileo climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa and from the top floor simultaneously threw an 80 kg cannonball and a 200 gram musket bullet. Thus, the scientist proved that the weight of a falling body does not affect the speed of the fall.

In 2018, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will mark 845 years since the foundation was laid.
The height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 56.7 meters, it has a total of 8 floors. And its weight is 14.7 tons.
Each bell in the tower has a different name and a different weight. The largest weighs 3.5 tons; the oldest bell is Pasquereccia (13th century).
The “Leaning Tower of Pisa” has become a household name and means any unstable vertical structure.
In total, there are approximately 300 “leaning” towers in the world that have deviated at least slightly from their axis, among the most famous are Big Ben, the clock tower in Izmir, and the towers of Bologna.
In the city of Niles (USA), a water tower was built in the form of an exact copy of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but half the size.
The flag on the tower belongs to the Pisa Republic of the 15th century.
Several tens of millions of euros have already been spent on attempts to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Information for tourists: where it is, tickets, opening hours

Opening hours:

December, January, February, March - 9:00 - 18:00
April, May, June - 9:00 - 20:00
July, August - 8:30 - 22:00
September - 9:00 - 22:00
October, November - 9:00 - 19:00.

* Information taken from the official source: www.opapisa.it/en/opening-and-closing-time.

Ticket price: 18 euros.

Address: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the most visited attraction in its hometown of Pisa. View others interesting places country of Italy, you can go to Florence, where you can admire the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

If we talk about Italy, and in particular about the city of Pisa, then the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is one of the most famous historical monuments modernity, 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 the period was exactly that. 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 this day exactly, so this is only a basic theory. Was the Tower intentionally built at an angle, or were these all flaws 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 began to slope towards 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 see beautiful view on 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 so that it holds 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 for this you will have to pay a lot for 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 purposes, 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 though small town, but among the attractions it boasts 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.

One of the most recognizable buildings in the world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She owes this to her unusual tilt. For more than 800 years, it has been tilted strongly to the side, as if falling.

The background of the Italian miracle

At the dawn of the 12th century Italian city Pisa began construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady. And it would be one of the beautiful, but little-known Italian cathedrals, if not for its world-famous bell tower, which became a landmark due to its unintentional tilt. More often it is called the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Everything about it is unusual and wonderful. No wonder the tower is located on the Square of Miracles. Almost the only one in the world, it stands at a distance from the cathedral itself, being at the same time an integral part of the whole architectural complex. This is the Pisa Cathedral, the baptismal church and the covered cemetery of Camposanto.

All objects are kept in one romanesque style and glorify the main stages of human existence: birth, life and death. The main decoration of the ensemble is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

History of construction

Construction, begun in 1173, continued for almost 200 years, including long interruptions due to war, and was actually completed in 1372, when the bell was installed. This is the largest unfinished construction project in Europe. The author of the project is unknown. Who is to blame for the fact that the tower came out crooked?

Previously, it was believed that the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was part of the architect’s plan, but, according to scientists, the design of the structure was initially erroneous. This became obvious after the construction of the third colonnade ring. The soft soil settled and eroded, causing the tower's disproportionately small foundation to settle just 3 meters deep.

One day the angle of inclination has changed. Under the pressure of the upper floors, the center of gravity shifted in the opposite direction from the initial one.

In 1934, dictator Benito Mussolini said that a crooked landmark reflected poorly on the nation's reputation. He ordered the Leaning Tower of Pisa to be straightened. To do this, more than a hundred holes were drilled in the foundation and liquid cement was poured into it. After hardening, the tower settled even deeper, and the angle of inclination became significantly greater.

Architectural features of the tower

In the external design, Muslim motifs can be traced, which bear a vague resemblance to minarets calling Muslims to prayer.

Cylindrical tower, built made of stone and marble, delights with its monumentality, the feeling of the “falling effect” and at the same time amazing grace.

Hollow inside, outside it is surrounded by huge arches with high columns. The wall of the lower floor is decorated with blind arches with capitals (the upper part of the vertical support that takes the load). They support the arches of the next six floors, each of which has 30 columns.

In total, the tower has 8 floors with a height of 56.7 meters. The building is crowned with an elegantly decorated belfry with 7 bells. The original ornament with mythical animals fits beautifully into the overall severity of the columns. All 6 central tiers are framed exquisitely with beautiful marble arches.

Near the entrance to the bell tower there are bas-reliefs on the walls with extraordinary views sea creatures. Above the doorway is a sculpture of the Madonna and Child.

On the ground floor the stone walls have almost five meter thick. The thickness of the upper walls is 2.5 meters. The Leaning Tower of Pisa has no roof. Due to the dangerous slope of the building, the architects completing the belfry sacrificed the roof. When you go inside and lift your head up, you can see the sky from the first floor.

Inside the tower, a spiral staircase of 294 comfortable marble steps winds around. You can climb along it to the top floor, where the belfry is located. The interesting thing is that the higher you go, the steps become narrower. During the ascent, you can look out the observation windows, and at the 5th floor level you can go out to the observation deck located on the outside.

Located at the very bottom Hall of Fish, which got its name because of the bas-relief carved on the wall. Those who are not afraid that a 56-meter tower weighing 14 tons will collapse right under their feet, having climbed up, understand how uneven the Leaning Tower of Pisa is and how great the angle of its inclination is.

Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall?

The original architecture attracts the close attention of tourists and scientists. The Italian authorities did not skimp on the restoration. In 1994–2001, lead ballasts - counterweights - were installed inside.

The structure deviates from the vertical axis by almost 5 meters. Every year for 8 centuries the slope increases by 1 millimeter. The Italians call it a “protracted miracle” precisely because the fall dragged on for 800 years.

How to save the tower

Work aimed at preserving the tower was carried out several years after the start of construction. Many rescue projects were unrealistic, incredible, implausible. Among them:

Next to the tower, build a sculpture of the unfortunate architect that would hold the structure.
Attach a huge balloon that would prevent the building from tilting.
It was proposed to run a tram around the bell tower, under the weight of which the soil would be compacted and the structure would not shrink.
Build exactly the same one near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which would deviate in the other direction. This way the two structures would support each other.

Scientists rejected such proposals and developed a scientifically based project aimed at strengthening the foundation.

The ground underneath southern part The bell towers are much softer than those under the northern one. To insure the tower against falling, steel cables, counterweights and supports were used. From under the base of its northern part, using a rotating auger, literally a millimeter at a time, a part of the soil was very carefully removed. The tower sank from the north and straightened by 50 cm. All devices supporting it during repairs were removed.

In 2004, at a cultural symposium in France, scientists announced that the Leaning Tower of Pisa would stand for at least another 300 years. The unintentional tilt does not prevent it from still standing intact and even surviving earthquakes.

Despite the visible “defect”, the falling bell tower in 1986 received the honor of falling into list world heritage UNESCO.

There are several tombs inside the tower, as it itself is part of the cathedral. Worship services are still held there today. They are announced by the melodious ringing of the bell of the Pisa Belfry. They are tuned in such a way that they can play absolutely any melody. There are seven of them in total - each has its own name and its own sound tone.

The oldest bell from the 13th century, Pasquereccia, which sounds the note G flat, has become a household name for the belfry for the Italians.
The next oldest Terza, tuned to B sharp, was made two centuries later.
Vespruccia, sounding the note E, was installed on the bell tower 30 years later.
Crocifisso (c sharp) was born twice, since it was melted down at the beginning of the 19th century.
Dal Pozo (salt), made in the 17th century, was badly damaged during the 1941 war and was replaced by an exact replica.
Assunta(si) is the largest bell of the tower.
San Ranieri (D sharp) is the latest one installed in the belfry.

Each of the bells has its own weight.

Numerous tourists are happy to learn unknown details about this extraordinary tower.

Initially it was planned to build a 12-story bell tower 98 meters high. An error in the project changed the plan.
It was on the Leaning Tower of Pisa that the famous scientist Galileo Galilei studied the earth's gravity acting on different masses of bodies. To do this, in the presence of other teachers at the University of Pisa, he dropped cannonballs from the tower, which allowed scientists to make scientific discoveries.
Americans in the suburbs of Chicago built a water tower - an exact copy of the Falling Tower, only half its original size.
During the Great Patriotic War there was a German military base here. Nazi troops considered the structure a good observation post. In 1944, the Americans, who liberated Italy from the Nazis, were delighted with the structure to such an extent that the commander-in-chief decided to cease fire. All efforts were aimed at luring German troops out of the building without causing damage to it, which was done.

Any educated person knows in which country the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built. The Tore pendente di Pisa is located in Italy and is an unusual piece of architecture that symbolizes the city of Pisa. This is the pearl of the religious complex of Piazza dei Miracoli on the Square of Miracles.

History of the tower's construction

August 1173. To complete the ensemble of the Square of Miracles, consisting of the Catholic Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta), the Campo Santo cemetery, the Baptistery of St. Giovanni (Baptistero di San Giovanni, where the sacraments of baptism take place), construction of the bell tower begins. The process lasted almost 200 years, interrupted and resumed. Many historians consider the first builder of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy to be Gerardo di Gerardo.

1233. Construction continues under the direction of the builder Benenato Botici.

1264. The source of decorative material is the Pisa Mountains, where workers go to extract marble. Grinding stone slabs The workshop is led by Reinaldo Speciale.

1272. The further process of construction is resumed. Giovanni di Simone begins to level the slope of the tower structure, but his efforts do not produce a positive result.

1284. Sea battle at Meloria ends with the defeat of Pisa. This leads to the fact that construction is temporarily mothballed.

1319. The seventh level of the building is being completed.

1350. Construction of the topmost floor of the bell tower is completed. Master Tommasa di Andrea Pisano builds a belfry in the Romanesque style.

There is disagreement among researchers about the year of completion of construction. Three expected dates are indicated: 1350, 1360 or 1372.

The Italian city where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located is known as the birthplace of the world famous physicist and philosopher Galileo Galilei (1564). His student, follower Vincenzo Viviani wrote a biography of the scientist. He included a description of the experiments Galileo conducted to prove his theory about the relationship between the weight of a falling body and the speed of falling from a height. Being on the upper floors of the tower, he simultaneously threw objects of various body weights down.

Scientists' opinions on this issue are divided. Skeptics consider this description a legend. Most recognize the scientist's Pisa experiments as a historical event.

Interesting fact. A record from one of the court books has been preserved. The entry contains a complaint from a Pisan merchant. He was walking past the bell tower when objects fell from above: first a cannonball, then a gun bullet. He fell, seriously injuring his leg. The merchant asks the authorities to punish Galileo, who dumped all this from above. The answer of Galileo himself was also recorded, arguing that one should not pay attention to the words of a person who does not distinguish a gun bullet from a musket bullet.

Architecture of Torre pendente di Pisa

The building material was stone blocks of local origin. Marble from the Pisa Mountains decorates the façade in white and shades of grey. The portal is framed by bas-relief images of mythological creatures. The tympanum is ennobled by a statue of Our Lady by Italian sculptor Andrea Guardi.

The first level is an arcature, that is, a series of decorative arches. The lower colonnade is 11 meters. Subsequent floors are surrounded by galleries. Each of the galleries is formed along the outer contour by columns decorated with classical capitals, which rest on closed arched Romanesque structures.

The official height, recorded statistically, is 58.36 m. But it is noted that the highest side reaches 56.70 meters, the lowest - 55.90 meters.

The diameter of the base is 15.54 m. There are 294 marble steps leading up.

The thickness of the walls is impressive:

below - 4.90 meters;
at the top 2.48 meters.

According to modern data, the slope is 3 degrees 54".

Interesting fact. Legend has it that the city government refused to pay the architect after the construction work was completed. He approached the tower column, putting his hand to it, and said: “Follow me!” The building tilted in the direction where its creator had gone.

Bells

At its core, the unique creation of Pisa is a campanella, that is, a bell tower. The seventh level, the belfry, has arched openings for working bells. Musical instruments endowed with names correspond to certain sounds of the musical staff. The weight of the largest Assunt (Assumption) reaches 3 tons 500 kilograms.

Interesting facts. Initially, the Crocifisso bell was made by the artisan Vincenzo Posenti, but then it was melted down by another artisan Gualandi da Prato. The small-sized Dal Pozo received serious damage during the Second World War; at the end of the war, the restored version became museum exhibit. The appearance of its copy among other operating bells - 2004. San Ranieri was melted down several times.

During the Middle Ages, each bell had a strictly established sounding schedule. On at the moment Before each mass of the current cathedral, the bell rings.

Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall?

The authors of the project, Bonanno Pisano and Guglielmo Innsbruck, are credited with the origin unique feature"falls". There is documentary evidence, a treatise by the Italian painter Giorgio Vasari (XVI century). He claims that the "evil" that afflicted the bell tower was due to the lack of practice of Bonanno and Guglielmo.

One of the reasons is recognized as the mistake of the designers, who did not take into account the characteristics of soft soil when laying a three-meter foundation. This led to the fact that already during the construction of the first floors a deviation from the vertical began (1178).

The tower structure began to deviate to the south, since under the southern part of the base the soil is looser and more unreliable. The engineers decided to build the wall further on the side of the slope higher (+ 10 centimeters) than on the other side. But the construction site began to tilt in the opposite direction. Instead of the originally planned 10 floors, only 8 were built.

1934. Dictator Mussolini orders the Leaning Tower of Pisa to be returned to its vertical position. Another mistake was made - the foundation was reinforced with concrete, which led to the foundation sinking deeper than the required level.

1964. The Italian government, given the importance of the unusual architectural structure for the tourism industry, decides to maintain the axial deviation, but prevent further destruction. The issue was studied by specialists from various fields: mathematics, engineering, history. It turned out that the masonry is deformed due to the difference in day and night temperatures. The research lasted 20 years.

Temporary measures were taken: the lead block structures of the northern part served as a counterweight, and supports were installed for backup. Experimental studies were carried out on a concrete foundation model replicating the tower data.

After discussing the proposed methods, it was decided to remove 38 cubic meters of soil under the north side. This measure led to the leveling of the situation to the level of 1838.

The design was corrected until 2001. Having stabilized the slope, the tourist site was opened to visitors. Experts promise that the Pisan-Romanesque monument will stand for at least 300 years.

Until 2008, despite the efforts of scientists and builders, the annual deviation was 1 mm.

Restoration 2002-2010 reduced the slope from 5 degrees 30" to 3 degrees 54".

What does the tower look like inside?

The staircase at the beginning of the ascent is quite wide. The steps rise in a spiral from the inside, then are accompanied by a gradual decrease in size. The final level is characterized by an indicator of 40 centimeters. The marble staircase made of natural decorative material is worn in places and has become quite slippery. Tourists are advised to wear comfortable shoes.

The central tower part is empty. From the viewing platforms on the inside you can look into the depths of the space.

Starting from the 5th level, visitors have the opportunity to go to external observation platforms, which are equipped with fences and nets for safety purposes.

Some tourists prefer to finish their climb with the 7th floor (belfry). The bravest climb to the upper observation deck, which does not have a safety net, and its fence does not exceed 1 meter. A panorama of the entire religious ensemble opens.

Of interest to visitors is the Hall of Fishes, so named because of the bas-reliefs depicting sea creatures. Previously, the entrance was closed to tourists, since it was a room for equipment that constantly measures deviations. Among modern tourists, visiting the hall at night is popular. You can look at the starry sky, as in an observatory.

Interesting fact. A copy of the “Italian Leaning Beauty” was built by the Americans in the city of Niles near Chicago, Illinois (1934). The copy reproduces the Pisa landmark in detail, but is half the size. This design disguises an ordinary water tower.

How to get to the tower

It is easy to get to the city of Pisa from various cities in Italy using rail transport.

on foot, spending 30-40 minutes,
public transport to the Piza Rossore stop, fare is about 1 EUR,
taxi (approx. 6.30 EUR).

The main attraction of the Pisa complex is open daily, year-round:

April - September - 8.30 - 20.30;
October - March - 9.00 - 17.00;
14.06 - 15.09 - 20.30 - 23.00 - night visits.

Rules for visiting the tower:

Entry will not be permitted less than 30 minutes before closing.
For reasons of security, public order or special circumstances such as ceremonies, the schedule may be subject to change or some areas may be closed without prior notice.
The visit is strongly not recommended for persons suffering from cardiovascular pathologies or having problems with fine motor skills.
Due to safety requirements, children under 8 years old are not allowed inside. Tourists under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Proof of age identification may be required.
The ticket fixes the time of the excursion. Late arrival at the required time will result in refusal to attend and does not give the right to demand a refund.
Bags and other luggage are left before the entrance (luggage storage is a separate building) and collected after the end of the visit. You are allowed to take a camera or video camera with you.
The visit lasts approximately 35 minutes.
Ticket price - 18 EUR (constantly increasing).
Free entry for visitors with disabilities and their accompanying persons who provide the appropriate document to the cashier and fill out a special form.
No more than 30-40 people can be allowed inside at a time.
It is recommended to buy tickets in advance. Excursions are scheduled 1-2 days in advance (especially in the summer there are many people interested).

Popular hotels near the tower

Food prices

Other leaning towers in the world

Worldwide famous city Italy, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located, has two more non-vertical architectural structures:

Campanella of the Church of St. Nicholas, Via Santa Maria;
Bell tower of the Church of the Archangel Michael (degli Scalzi), Piagge Park.

Various statistical sources count approximately 300 “leaning” tower structures known throughout the world. You can divide this list into 2 groups depending on whether the project was originally intended to be tilted.

The most notable among the structures for projects involving “inclination” are the following.

The Capital Gate skyscraper (“Capital Gate”), Abu Dhabi, UAE, at a height of 160 meters, has a deviation from the vertical of 18°. Constructed using a unique diagonal grid technology. Expands from the base to the upper floors.
The Olympic Stadium Tower (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) was built to host the 1976 Olympics. Its inclination is 45°, height is 165 meters. It is held at an angle thanks to a foundation weighing 145 thousand tons, buried 10 meters underground.
The Bella Sky Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark consists of two oppositely curved towers. Each has a height of 76.5 m, the deflection angle is 15°.
Two skyscraper towers "Gateway of Europe" are directed towards each other, Madrid, Spain. Their height is stated to be 114 m, angle - 15°.

Among the architectural creations that bend under the influence of certain conditions, the following stand out:

Tower of the Catholic Church of San Juan de los Panetes, Zaragoza, Spain. The inclination is 2°. Previously, another building with a city clock stood in its place, leaning 2.3 m and destroyed in 1893.
The 75 m high bell tower of the Oudekerk Church, Delft, Netherlands, began to tilt due to a poor foundation. The tilt is stabilized to 1.98 meters from the central axis.
The bell tower of the church of Zuurhusen, Lower Saxony, Germany has a deviation of 5.19 degrees and a height of 27.4 m. The reason for the “fall” is also an unreliable foundation. The situation was stabilized by 1996.
Yunnan Pagoda, Sizhou, China, built in 961 with a height of 47 m. Its unstable position is determined by the negative influence weather conditions. She deviated by 2.32 m.

Russia was no exception. Its “falling” tower landmark was built according to the decree of Peter the Great in Nevyansk. The construction dates back to the 17th century. The height of the building is 57.5 m. The deviation of the upper part is 2.20 m. Three versions of its deviation are described:

special project
soil subsidence,
from the suffering and tears of ordinary people.

Interesting fact. The 6th floor provides guests with the opportunity to visit the mysterious “hearing room”. The unique design allows you to observe an unusual phenomenon. Two people standing with their backs to each other in opposite corners can clearly hear each other whispering. There is absolute silence in the middle of the room.

The non-standard “falling” structures of the world conceal many mysteries. But tourists traveling around Italy tend to visit the city of Pisa to see architectural marvel, under the auspices of UNESCO.

Leaning Tower of Pisa- the main goal of most tourists arriving in Pisa. It's interesting to look at the famous leaning tower - La torre pendente– and, if possible, climb on it.

Looking at the tower is as easy as shelling pears. All you have to do is come to Pisa and come to Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles, and here it is - in all its glory.

The Square of Miracles is open 24 hours a day and admission is free.

But the climb to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is worth it 18 euros. And no preferential categories.

- However! - you say. But the demand is obvious. There is a queue to get to the tower, and if you haven’t arranged for tickets in advance, you may not get in.

Online tickets are sold on the official website of the Piazza dei Miracoli museum complex - https://www.opapisa.it/en/tickets/buy/. You can buy tickets no earlier than 20 days before the visit, and later than one day.

However, if you are traveling to Pisa in the low season, then most likely you can buy tickets at the box office for the next show without any problems.

I was in Pisa during the high season, at the end of August, but I went to the ticket office at 9 am and there I freely bought tickets for the next show at 9-15. True, after a couple of hours people came running and lined up.

The visit takes place in sessions, every 15 minutes: the first session in 9 o'clock in the morning. The closing time depends on the season: in winter the tower is open until 6 pm, in the off-season until 7 pm, and in summer until 8 pm.

The official website says that the session lasts approximately 35 minutes. This is wrong. No one at the top keeps track of how long you are there. There are attendants on each level (visitors visit the top two levels), but they do not rush anyone in any way (unless it is the end of the working day - oh yes, the Italians are on alert here).

Bags (even small ones), and especially backpacks, must be checked into a storage room. It is located in a low building behind the cathedral, opposite the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In front of the building, there is a Capitoline wolf on a column, and a Fallen Angel lies on the grass.

Wear clothes with pockets so you have somewhere to put your phone. The camera is on the neck.

History of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the third object to appear on Piazza dei Miracoli. First they were built and, and then for the cathedral, fifty meters from it, they began to build a bell tower.

Work has begun 6 August 1173 under the guidance of an architect Diotisalvi, who built the baptistery before this. Was involved in finishing Giovanni Pisano, who had also previously worked on the façade of the baptistery.

However, the soil under the tower turned out to be silty, and already at the completion of the third level (there are eight in total), the tower tilted to the side. Attempts were made to correct the situation: strengthen the soil, adjust the center of gravity in the upper levels, and by 1350 the bell tower was completed. On top of it were placed seven bells - one bell for each note. The heaviest of them weighs 3.5 tons.

In the 19th century, the tower underwent reconstruction. Now it deviates from the vertical by 5.5°.

Architecture Features

After you have checked in your luggage and taken your place in line, you will have time to explore the decor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 58 m. It consists of eight levels, six of which are surrounded by galleries with columns.

The lower tier is decorated with pilasters connected by arches. Under the arches there are pressed diamonds inlaid with multi-colored marble.

Funny capitals

Leaning Tower of Pisa inside

Finally, the time for our session comes and we go inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

And we are surprised to discover that it is hollow inside.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has a unique design: it consists of two cylinders, an inner and an outer, between which a staircase rises in a spiral. The diameter of the outer cylinder is 15 m, the inner one is 4.5 m.

We begin to climb the worn marble steps (there are 273 of them in total).

Little by little we rise above the tiled roofs of Pisa.

At each intermediate level, a cavity is cut into the outer cylinder, where you can retreat from the stairs and rest a little, viewing the square and the city from a new angle.

Views from above

The top two levels are open to the public. First, visitors walk around the first circle, then go up to the platform with the bells. Previously, people were allowed to go to the very top, but now the stairs there are closed.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa valuable? observation deck? In addition to the fact that from here we will see Pisa from above - with its spiers, domes and approaching mountains, we can see general plan the cathedral and its many interesting details, such as the design of the dome or the unprecedented hippograph beast standing on a column above the rear pediment, and with good optics - John the Baptist on the dome of the baptistery. If you are a detailed person with an eye for detail, bring binoculars.

Hippograph

John the Baptist on the dome of the baptistery

So let's start going around in circles

Directly in front of us, on the edge of the Square of Miracles, is a university hospital with a courtyard in the middle, and behind it is a green area Ortho Botanico, one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe.

At the foot of the tower, the former monastery courtyard is clearly visible - now a courtyard Duomo Museum. The museum itself is now closed for reconstruction.

Representative building behind the Duomo Museum – Archdiocese of Pisa. When you walk around the city, don’t forget to look there, in the palace there is a wonderful arched kiostro.

A graceful pediment rises above the roofs of the buildings Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria with a bell tower. It looks great against the backdrop of blue mountains

Street of Cardinal Pietro Maffi

A section of the fortress wall is clearly visible (how to get there -)

and people walking along it

Northern part of Pisa and the spurs of the Apuan Alps.

The local mountains are famous for their marble. The Pisans had plenty to build architectural masterpieces from in Piazza dei Miracoli. By the way, the famous Carrara with marble quarries is not far from here.

As you move from the southern to the northern part of the tower, the slope is quite noticeable - you are clearly going up. It seems like only 5 degrees, but you can really feel it.

Capitals: from very simple to very expressive

Upper tier. Bells

Having completed the circle, we go up the stairs to the platform with the bells. Through the glass you can look down into the tower shaft.

From the platform with the bells, steps descend to a circular gallery. The gallery is surrounded by a mesh, so you have to take pictures in the gaps between the meshes.