Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa
View of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy
Photo by: McPig, Creative Commons

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a free standing bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa in Italy. The Tower is located behind the cathedral and is said to be the third oldest structure in Pisa. The tower was made to stand straight, however immediately after it was constructed, it started leaning towards the south east. This was due to a poorly laid foundation and a substrate that allows the foundation to favor one direction.

The total height of the tower is 186.27 feet from the ground towards the lower side and 186.02 feet on the higher side. Its wall width at the bottom is measured at over 13 feet and the walls are 8 feet thick at the top. The tower’s total weight is 14,500 metric tons and has 296 steps on the south side and 294 steps on the north facing side.

The Tower Of Pisa was built over a period spanning from 1173 to 1372 and was constructed in three different phases. It was in 1178 when the Leaning Tower of Pisa had three floors that the tower started to sink. The reason was that only a three meter foundation had been used upon unbalanced soil. Essentially, the design was flawed from the beginning. Construction was halted for almost a century as the city was in a continuous state of war. The soil eventually settled, otherwise, the tower was sure to topple over.

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26 responses to “Leaning Tower of Pisa”

  1. Yasmin Sofiya says:

    It is a beautiful historical place to visit.

  2. Rosyl says:

    How I wish I could visit this unique bell tower in Pisa Italy.

  3. NITHYA says:

    wow what a place this i wish to go to the top of this

  4. Tyler says:

    I wish I could see how tall this is in person 🙂

  5. Deavione says:

    COOL WHO BUITL IT?

  6. paolo says:

    im from italy im from genova its so beutiful ill show you that im from italy. ciao come stai iio bene e te me kla stop cavando bene qua!

  7. i hope it dosnt fall in 2012

  8. Cliff says:

    COOL YET SCARY HOPE IT DON’T FALL IN 2012

  9. ayesha says:

    If it falls , this is going to be a great trouble.

  10. courtney says:

    i wish i could go see it in person!!!!….i just hope it dont fall in the next couple of years sence it move over 0.5 inches!!!1

  11. bob says:

    if the tower did fall next year do you know how scary it would be

  12. It is the best time to make some plans for the long run and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this put up and if I may just I desire to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Maybe you could write subsequent articles regarding this article. I desire to learn even more things approximately it!

  13. leila says:

    im too interested in Italy

  14. tionna says:

    i wish it was not so far away i want to see it

  15. mama says:

    when was this built andwhobuilt it??

  16. Bob Lovka says:

    I’m a Senior Editor in Publishing and it hurts your credibility when you have a sentence ( third sentence in paragraph 1 in the article) about why the tower leans, and explain it with…”a weekly laid foundation…” I quit right there. Weak writing….

  17. Izzy Potter says:

    WHO BUILT THE LEANING TOWER ANYWAY!!!??????? Shouldn’t that be in the artice???????????????????

  18. keeley says:

    wow this is so cool wish i could go seee. imadgine if it fell it could be the end of the world;):)

  19. Ivy says:

    why does it leaning anyway?

  20. thara says:

    I thought it was falling but no . So scary and beautiful

  21. LGH says:

    This is awesome, but the website should say when the other parts were built and who it was made by. I think they need more info. But other wise great presentation and I think this will inspire many others to come and vist the unique Leaning Tower Of Piza. Thank you for providing me with this information I can use it.

  22. I need help I’m dong a research paper n school and I need some help with it can some one please help pleaseeeeeee!!!!!!

  23. SAmeer says:

    It will fall down in 20 years as it is leaning daily

  24. DEBABS says:

    NICE I LOVE THE BUILDING

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