Pisa, Italy

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Pisa, Italy is the location of the world’s most prominent feature of poor architectural planning; the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  The tower provides the city of Pisa an element of charm and texture.  The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply The Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower for the cathedral.  It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa’s Cathedral Square, only after the Cathedral and the Baptistry.

Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The tower presently leans to the southwest.

The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the lowest side and 56.70 m (186.02 ft) on the highest side. The width of the walls at the base is 4.09 m (13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m (8.14 ft). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 metric tons. The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase.

Prior to restoration work performed between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but the tower now leans at about 3.99 degrees. This means that the top of the tower is 3.9 meters (12 ft 10 in) from where it would stand if the tower were perfectly vertical.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is eight stories of granite and marble.  After the first three stories were finished, the intrepid builders noticed the structure beginning to tilt and quickly discovered that the land they were building on was a dense clay mixture, not nearly stable enough to keep the tower standing. Construction was halted for almost a century before city officials, undaunted by the slight miscalculation in the tower’s original design, decided they would finish it anyway. The leaning tower of Pisa Italy, withstood the onslaught of gravity for almost 600 years, before the condition worsened to the point where it put tourists in danger. The tower now exists as both an architectural and engineering marvel.

In addition to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa Italy is also home to a handful of other historical sights, most of them affiliated with the university and a packed marketplaces.  These entertainments provide entertainment for hours, with many agrarian delights available for purchase.

The city of Pisa was originally a naval base but as the base began to decline, Pisa turned its attentions towards scholastic pursuits. Established in the 14th century, the university closed frequently as warfare interrupted studies for long periods of time. But with the birth of Italy, the University of Pisa became one of the new state’s most prestigious cultural institutions.

So whether you wish to ogle the leaning tower of Pisa Italy, the hectic marketplace or the domed Pisa cathedral, this noble city is simply waiting for you to take the first step.

Pisa, Italy

Pisa, Italy

Pisa, Italy

Pisa, Italy

Pisa, Italy

Popularity: 1% [?]