Tilt tower title. leaning tower of pisa

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There are many falling towers in the world - buildings that have a tower-like shape, which, for completely different reasons, deviated from the vertical state and lean menacingly. Typically, the slope of the towers occurs due to changes in the properties of the soil or due to builders' mistakes when laying the foundations. Oddly enough, such towers often become attractions that attract crowds of tourists. Some of these leaning towers are included in the List due to their high historical and artistic value. cultural heritage mankind, or in the Guinness Book of Records. Let's take a look at 12 of the most interesting and famous leaning towers.

Capital Gate is a modern skyscraper in Abu Dhabi, which is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the tower with the largest slope in the world. The slope of the building is 18 degrees. Unlike the rest of the structures in this article, the skyscraper was purposely designed and built on an incline.

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

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

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

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

Two towers Asinelli (Asinelli) and Garisenda (Garisenda) in the city of Bologna, Italy, fall despite all the efforts of the city authorities. big tower called Asinelli, and the smaller but more deviated from the axis - Garisenda. Its deviation is already more than 3.22 meters.

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

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

Tiger Hill Pagoda or Huqiu Tower is located in Suzhou city, in Jiangsu province. The tower was erected in the late period of the Fifth Dynasties (907-960 AD), its height is 47 m. For more than a thousand years, the Tiger Hill Pagoda has been steadily tilting due to adverse weather conditions. The slope of the tower today is 2.32 m.

Burano Tower, or the Church of St. Martin on one of Venetian Islands— Burano, Italy. The tower was built in the 15th century and began to lean due to the unstable island soil. She does not fall just because she is leaning on a nearby building.

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

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

The bell tower of the Tikhvin Church in the city of Kungur is little known. However, built in the 1880s, 70 meters high, it leaned right after construction and has a slope of 3.5 degrees. The Tikhvin Church is an architectural monument of federal significance.

One of Italy's most popular architectural landmarks 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's 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 were even.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted?

At the place where the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands, silty and clayey soil prevails, which is why it began to lean to the south at the very beginning of construction. The height of the foundation is only three meters, combined with soft ground - 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.

For 8 centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa 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 conceived by the architects is not correct. But this mistake, apparently, only played into the hands of the sights.

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 the builders, who over the centuries tried to level the bell tower. Its roll either increases or decreases - all this is due to the displacement of the 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".

Construction history

The 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 found out that the clay soil under the bell tower was sinking, and the construction stopped for a year. By 1178, three floors of the tower had already been erected - the building began to tilt to the south, and this time construction was postponed for almost 100 years.

In 1272, when the slope of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was 50 cm, construction was resumed. Giovanni di Simone was appointed project manager. By 1284, the height of the tower was already 48 meters; six floors were built with loggia-gallery. 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 roll of 90 cm from the vertical axis - and again the 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 leveling experiments. In the middle of the 20th century, a special commission was created in order to prevent the destruction of the local landmark. To this day, restoration work is ongoing. 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 there is a belfry with arches for seven bells. All bells are in working order and can be heard at noon and also before every mass in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

The style of architecture in the Leaning Tower of Pisa is Romano-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 observe the starry sky over Pisa from the inside.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 294 steps made of natural marble. To 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 personnel to regulate the movement.

Looking through the viewing windows on the inner walls, you can see that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is empty inside. Starting from the fifth tier, it is possible to reach viewing platforms equipped with a protective net. There is no grid on the eighth floor and from a height a magnificent view of the surroundings opens - the Field of Miracles.

The experience of the scientist Galileo

The experiment of the physicist and philosopher Galileo Galilei, a native of Pisa, was to test the speed of falling objects of different weights. Prior to this, there was a point of view that heavy bodies fall from a height faster than light ones. To conduct the experiment, Galileo climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa and from the top floor at one moment threw a cannonball of 80 kg and a musket bullet weighing 200 grams. 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 celebrate its 845th anniversary since the foundation was laid.
The height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 56.7 meters, it has 8 floors in total. And its weight is 14.7 tons.
Each bell in the tower has its own 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 about 300 "falling" towers in the world that deviated at least a little from their axis, among the most famous are Big Ben, the clock tower in Izmir, 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: location, 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.

The address: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa

Where is the Leaning Tower of Pisa located on the map of Pisa:

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

Traveling in Italy, many tourists rush to be in 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"?

What does the definition " falling tower»? Falling tower- this is a structure whose axis is not parallel to the vertical, but deviated from it at some specific angle. If you delve into the terminology, then there is a division: falling tower and leaning tower. The angle of inclination of the falling tower gradually increases, which can lead to the destruction of the structure. And the angle of the inclined tower remains constant, while the structure itself is in a stable equilibrium state. The deviation of the axis of the building from the vertical can occur for various reasons: earthquakes, floods, strong wind loads, and so on, but most often the deviation from the vertical is the result of miscalculations by architects and builders. If the building is being built on unsuitable ground for construction, then after a while the building may tilt due to uneven settlement. It's amazing that a building's tilt, due to an engineering error, can make a building a world-famous landmark.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is known worldwide for its tilt, but there are many other leaning and leaning towers built around the world. In the same Italy, there are several more inclined towers, also inclined and falling towers can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain 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". to compensate for the inclination, the upper floors were built with higher corridor ceilings on the side the tower leaned into, which led to a curvature about the axis of symmetry. Until the 20th century, the Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually “fell”, deviating by about one millimeter from the vertical per year. 54" by excavating under the foundation.

Sometimes Italians make fun of tourists, telling how the slope at 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 was striking in its grandeur and beauty. But the stingy Catholic priests refused to pay the architect for the work. Then Pisano went up to the tower and said: "Follow me!". The bell tower tried to follow its creator and leaned over."

Today the title leaning tower of pisa" has become a household name: now the so-called unstable vertical structures or structures that deviate noticeably from the vertical.

Two Italian leaning towers are located in the city center Bologna. towers Azinelli (Asinelli) and Garisenda (Garisenda), named after the families of the first owners, were built in the 12th century. In medieval Bologna, wealthy families competed with each other, trying to build the most high tower. First, the Asinelli tower appeared in the city center, which, after construction, leaned to the side due to uneven subsidence of the soil under the foundation. Then came the tower of Garisenda, which was deliberately built at an angle, in mockery of the neighboring tower. After construction was completed, Garisenda was shortened several times to avoid collapse due to the 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 leans more to the side: in our days, the deviation from the vertical at the top of the tower is about three meters. Alighieri Dante in his poem The Divine Comedy described only a slight deviation:

"Like Garisenda, if you stand under the overhang,
The top seems to be tilting a little
Towards a cloud in the height of heaven ... "

Leaning and Leaning Towers in Germany

Germany also has leaning and leaning towers, and one of them even got into the Guinness Book of Records. Bell tower of the church in the village of Zuurhusen (Suurhusen) deviated from the vertical by an angle of 5 ° 12", respectively, this is the most tilted 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 lean to the side due to for uneven settlement of the building.It was possible to stop the "fall" only at the end of the 20th century.

Belfry of the Upper Church in Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäuser

upper church in Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäusere 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, and the "fall" still cannot be stopped.

Leaning and Leaning Towers in the Netherlands

Oldehove Tower

Oldehove Tower- unfinished bell tower in the center of the Dutch city Leeuwarden. The construction of the building began in the 16th century. locals they wanted to build a belfry to their church, which would surpass in height the belfry of the church of St. Martin in the neighboring city Groningen. The tower began to tilt already at the initial stage of construction. Noticing this, the builders tried to compensate for the roll 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.

Belfry of the Old Church in Delft

Oude Kerk(translated from Dutch - old church) - Gothic church in the 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 (the angle of inclination is 1 ° 30 ").

Leaning and falling towers in Russia

Tower Syuyumbike

One of the Russian falling 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 the tower was built is still 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 a day. Still not to bend over after such a high-speed construction! Today, the Syuyumbike leaning tower is a recognized architectural symbol of Kazan and is widely known far beyond the borders of Tatarstan.

Nevyansk tower

Nevyansk tower- inclined tower located in the center 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 mistake made at the stage of laying the foundation and during the construction of the lower level of the tower walls. Thus, the upper tiers were built with a roll in the opposite direction, due to which the tower acquired a saber-like bend. However, there is also an opinion that the building was deliberately built slanted so that Nevyansk would have its own Leaning Tower of Pisa. Also, a legend is sometimes told that the tilt of the tower appeared after Demidov, frightened by the auditor's check, ordered to flood the basement of the building in which he allegedly minted counterfeit coins. The legend of the flooded basement is just one of the many legends about the tower in Nevyansk. Mysticism and mysteries surround this sloping Ural skyscraper. For example, after the tower was erected, 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. Also, visitors to the tower are struck by the so-called " acoustic room”, in which, standing in one corner, you can clearly hear what they say in a whisper in the opposite corner. It is also worth mentioning the unique English chimes mounted on the tower. The Nevyansk Tower is one of the most mysterious falling towers in the world, although it is not the highest and most inclined.

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

Leaning and Leaning Towers in China

Pagoda on Tiger Hill

Pagoda on Tiger Hill- an inclined tower in China, it is often called that: " 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 from above. As a result, the height of the tower is about 47 meters, while the deviation from the vertical is 2.32 meters, that is, the angle of the tower is almost 3 degrees. The "fall" of the tower was stopped in the middle of the 20th century, and now the tower is in a stable equilibrium position.

Leaning and Leaning Towers in the UAE

Capital Gate

Most 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 Abu Dhabi, is a modern sloping 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 largest 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 slope of the 96-meter Big Ben is only 0 ° 15 ", and the deviation from the vertical is 0.44 meters. Visually, the slope is not even noticeable. Calling Big Ben a falling tower can only be a stretch, but it is also impossible to say that the tower is not tilted at all. .

The most falling towers

So let's sum it up:

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

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

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

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

The most inclined modern building in the world is the Capital Gate skyscraper in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
The slope of the building is 18 degrees.

And finally, it is not necessary to go to Pisa to see the leaning tower, because you can find such a peculiar attraction somewhere closer.

Falling towers on the world map

Travel from A to Z:

Of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most extraordinary architectural objects with an interesting history, but it is by no means the only one in its unreliable, unsteady balance. There are many such towers built according to erroneous calculations, or which have lost their correct position due to the adverse influence of the external environment, on our planet.

Most of these leaning buildings are of high historical and artistic value, and attract crowds of tourists every year. Some of them are even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. And today I will talk about the ten most interesting falling towers located in different parts of the world. Naturally, in fact, there are much more of them - but I tried to select the most original ones for you.

The church in Zuurhusen (Germany) according to the Guinness Book of Records is the highest falling tower in the world; and, although Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi intercepted the palm in 2010, today the Zuuhurzen Church remains the most “falling” building in the world - its angle of inclination is even greater than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa: with a height of only 24.7 meters, the deviation angle vertically is more than 5 degrees.

London's Big Ben is also "falling": the clock tower deviates from the vertical axis by 0.26 degrees. Compared to other leaning towers, this is, of course, not much - but the slope of Big Ben is increasing every year by almost 0.9 mm. It was a consequence of the appearance of the subway; also, the roll of the tower is given by ongoing underground work.

The Frankenhausen Church, or rather, its tower, is constantly tested by the strongest winds: the building is located on the outskirts of the city, on the slope of a fairly high hill, and there is not a single barrier that can protect it from the wind. Now the tower is tilting at a tremendous rate - more than six centimeters a year. In order to stabilize the structure, the local authorities allocated $ 1.5 million. If the restoration process is in vain, then in the next decade the tower of the Frankenhausen church will reach a critical level and simply fall.

Huqiu Pagoda, also known as the Tiger Hill Tower, was built at the end of the first millennium of this century in the city of Suzhou (China). Its height is 47 meters, weight - seven thousand tons. The seven-story brick building gradually increases its tilt due to natural influences.

The name of the next "falling" building - Oude Kerk - translates as "Old Church". This Protestant temple was built in the Gothic style in the city of Delft (Netherlands). The height of the "Old Church" is almost 75 meters, and the angle of deviation from the vertical axis is almost two centimeters.

In the Netherlands, there is another leaning tower - Bedum: with a height of 35.7 meters, its angle of inclination is 2.61 meters. Every year the angle of inclination increases more and more, and if nothing is done, the inclination of the Bedum Tower will soon reach a critical point.

Another leaning tower is located in Italy, on the island of Burano. Since the time of construction, which was completed in the 15th century, the tower has been gaining more and more tilt due to the erosion of the base by underground waters. Today, the building is saved from falling only by the fact that it uses nearby buildings as supports.

And now let's turn to Russian landmarks: and we have several famous leaning towers. For example, the Tikhvin Church located in Kungur. It tilted immediately after the completion of construction (1880), and today it deviates from the vertical axis by 3.5 degrees at a height of 70 meters.

The Nevyansk Tower was built in the Middle Urals by order of Peter the Great. It was built by the famous architect and miner Akinfiy Demidov. Its height is 57.5 meters, and the deviation from the axis is 2.2 meters. The reason for this is unsteady ground, which year after year heels the tower more and more.

And finally, I left the building, which has one salient feature, which distinguishes it from all the above falling towers. This is Capital Gate, an architectural wonder located in Abu Dhabi.

The tower was specially designed with a large angle of inclination: its planned "roll" is no less than - as much as 18 degrees. Today, Capital Gate holds the Guinness World Record for the building with the largest slope.

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 the 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 outer 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. Campanella is raised to the upper level 294 steps. And from there, tourists who have overcome the ascent open beautiful view on the Field of Miracles and the surrounding area.

The entire tower is made of stone and decorated with colored marble (light gray and white). At its entrance there are bas-reliefs depicting mythical figures of animals. The top of the lunette is decorated with a statue of the Madonna and Child by Andrea Guardi ( Andrea Guardi). The first tier is bordered by blind arches with fifteen semi-columns and decorated with caissons, inside which you can see rosettes identical to the decorations on the baptistery and the cathedral. Six subsequent floors are surrounded by decorative Romanesque arcades. Their grace is reminiscent of Byzantine architecture. The building is crowned with a belfry, cut through by arches for seven bells. Their weight ranges from 300 kilograms to 3.5 tons. In addition, each of them has its own name and tone. Subsequent ones joined him already in the 16th and 17th centuries. By the way, they are all in working condition and still delight tourists with their ringing.

bells

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

Dal Pozo ( Dal Pozzo) - the note salt was made in 1606. During the bombing of World War II, it was destroyed. After the war, it was restored and sent to the museum. And in its place in 2004, an exact copy appeared. Assunta ( Assunta) with a note si - the largest of the seven bells, appeared thanks to Giovanni Pietro Orlandi. The last addition to the belfry was San Ranieri (D-sharp note). Moreover, it was repeatedly melted down. AT last time it 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. Interestingly, in the Middle Ages, the bells did not ring at the same time, but each at its own specially set liturgical hour.

tower rescue

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

This issue became especially relevant after the hurricane that swept over Pisa and moved the tower a fraction of a millimeter in just one day. For this, a special competition was even announced among scientists, architects, and simply ordinary citizens, for which ideas to save the tower were accepted. The main condition for stopping the "fall" was to maintain the slope of the structure. After all, 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 there was nothing there.

For example, building a sculpture of an unfortunate architect near the tower so that he would hold his unsuccessful creation. Or attach to the top of the bell tower a huge balloon, which would support the structure without giving, thus it will be rejected. In one of the options, it was proposed to put 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 came down to building a similar one near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but with an inclination in the opposite direction so that they supported each other.

The most strange and 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 south side of the base the ground is much softer than the north. With the help of additional steel cables, which insure the structure from falling, part of the soil from under the northern base was very carefully and painstakingly selected. As a result of the settlement of the tower after the preparatory work on the north side, the slope was reduced by about 50 centimeters, rejuvenating the tower by a couple of hundred years. After that, the cables, counterweights and supports were removed. Today, the pride of Pisa is practically in stable condition.

Working hours

Due to the threat of destruction, visiting the campanella was banned in 1990. The reopening 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 the moment of closing until 23-00. Such an 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 by a thousand lights and appears in a completely different way.

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 attempts to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the cost of visiting this attraction is also rather big. Today it is 18 euros and according to forecasts, it can only increase. Having decided to go 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 having come to the tower early in the morning, you will have, at best, the opportunity to take a ticket for the evening. In the summer, the situation becomes even more difficult.

Tower from the inside

It is worth coming to the starting point of the excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This is due to the fact that you will have to (mandatory) hand over all things 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 under the strictest ban.

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

Going inside, you can see that the foot of the stairs is quite wide. It rises up the inner circumference of the tower. Despite the rather comfortable steps, many people experience dizziness after a while. All the time I 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 has strong wear. With each step, the width of the stairs decreases. On the last tier, it is about 40 centimeters at all.

Inside the tower is hollow and the staircase wraps around it in a spiral. Viewing windows are equipped along the inner wall, allowing you to look into this frightening void. After the fifth tier, it is allowed to go to the external viewing platforms. For reliability and safety, they are tightened with a net and fences. Some remain in the belfry (the penultimate tier) and do not rise to the very top. But in vain. Because for those who overcome the last test, the view that opens up 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 visible at a glance. And only at the very top you can realize how uneven the surface under your feet.

After the pleasure received, it is worth taking a deep breath and getting ready for the last test - the descent down. On each tier there are special people who regulate one-way traffic. That is, the movement alternately goes either up or down. Going down is harder. Abraded marble is an excellent base for sliding, increasing the chance of sliding down. So be very careful.

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

An evening visit to Campanella includes a visit to the Memorial Cemetery of Santo Campo. It is used not only for the burial of the dead, but also for life education seminars. There you can see and think about 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 going 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 to the main attraction of the city you will reach in 40 minutes on foot. If you do not want to walk on foot, you can use public transport. It will take you to the Pisa Rossore station, from where you can get to the right place.

See instructions:

Why is it falling

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

Galileo

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

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

It turns out there are three

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

The third bell tower was lost on the oldest street of the city and belongs to the church of St. Nicholas ( San Nicola). Its curvature is not so “striking” due to the densely surrounding other buildings. All structures gave a heel even at the time of construction in the distant past due to the heterogeneity of the soil and groundwater.

In total, about 300 "falling" towers can be found in the world. Among them are the clock tower in Izmir (Turkey), Big Ben (England), Bologna towers, Nevyansk tower (Russia). However, it was the “falling” Leaning Tower of Pisa ( Torre pendente di Pisa) .

Photo on the background

And, finally, a reminder: don't forget with the Pisan "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, the angle of inclination will depend on the side from which the picture 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 flat structure. And here is the western east side provide an opportunity to see the "highlight" of the sights in all its glory. Having shown your imagination or at least wandered through the expanses of the Internet in advance, 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 FRECCCIABIANCA for 37 euros - travel time 3 hours, or regional for 23 euros - 4 hours. When planning a trip 2-3 months in advance, you can buy a ticket for a high-speed train for only 9 euros. Also, an electric train, costing 22 euros, departs daily from Roma Trastevere station. Tickets are bought directly at the station a maximum of 7 days in advance.
from Florence: from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, an electric train costs 8 euros every day, 2 times an hour, the journey takes 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 Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Travel time is just over 3 hours. The cost is 48-65 euros (27-37 euros for 3 months) depending on the time of day. A slower option is a regional train for 34 euros (9 euros in advance), 4 hours on the way.
from Rimini: most likely you will have to get with transfers in Bologna and Florence, since there is no direct connection. The journey will take you about 4 hours. The cost of one-way tickets is 39-53 euros. An alternative option is to rent a car at the airport for 50-60 euros per day to get on your own without being tied to trains. .
from Genoa: from Genova Piazza Principe station by regional or high-speed train for 15-20 euros. Travel time is about 2 hours.

You can check the current train schedule in Italy 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 check the box and take a picture against the background of a falling tower, but in order to visit other equally significant sights 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 overnight accommodation options is between 60-100 euros. Using a special link you can find a hotel near the tower. 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 pictures at the most popular places. Then back to the hotel for breakfast and home.

Good luck with your travels and photos!

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