The Tower, Pisa

This tower is the Campanile (clock tower) for the Cathedral (Duomo). At the 8th order there is the belfry.

The clock chamber has a smaller diameter then the 7 other storeys.

Luckily for us the bells did not ring when we were visiting the tower.

More information on this famous tower at http://torre.duomo.pisa.it/

It is the most wellknown attraction of Pisa. You have to go there! You can also climb the tower when you book in advance. The place around the tower is very nice, but with tourist groups from all over the world.

The number one reason for coming to Pisa is to see the Leaning Tower.

Officially known as TORRE PENDENTE DI PISA, the tower was designed by Bonanno Pisano in 1173. Its current tilt is JUST OVER 5 METERS!!

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Next to the Eiffel Tower, the leaning tower of Pisa probably is the most famous tower in the world. Construction of the cathedral of Pisa's campanile began in 1173, but after only 5 years (they were working on the third floor at that point) the tower began sinking due to shallow foundations and unstable soil. It took nearly 200 years to complete the tower, both because architects were trying to figure out a way to make the tower stand and also because the city was frequently involved in battles against the cities of Florence, Genoa and Lucca. The top floor was finally added in 1319, and the tower was officially completed with the addition of the bell chamber in 1372. At that time, the tower was already leaning by about 1.5 m and it kept on sinking until major works were undertaken in the 1990s to stabilize the structure. The tower is now leaning by about 4 m and, since 2001, visitors are once more allowed to climb to the top.

My first impressions of the tower were 1) that its Romanesque architecture was truly beautiful, something that is often overlooked in favour of its more obvious characteristics, and 2) that it was much more tilted than I imagined it to be! I'd seen pictures, of course, but when you're standing next to the tower it's even more impressive. I hadn't really planned on climbing to the top of the tower but since we got to Pisa early on a Monday morning, there were still tickets available so we decided to forget about the price (15 Euros per person!) and go for it. Climbing the tower's circular stairs is a bit of an experience in itself since it's almost like climbing up a boat that's rocking back and forth. Even though the morning mist still hadn't lifted by the time we got to the top, the view of the city, the Piazza dei Miracoli and the surrounding countryside was amazing. So all in all, I'd say it was a bit of an extravagance but it was still money well spent!

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Not only is it leaning, but it is also curved! La Torre di Pisa, the 56-metre round bell tower of the neighbouring cathedral, is one of the most famous and most intriguing monuments in the world. Its construction commenced in 1173 and continued for over 170 years in three phases. Due to a faulty design and a loose soil beneath, the tower began to lean almost immediately, resulting in a halt in the construction. There is great uncertainty over the architect responsible for the first phase, which saw the completion of the first three floors, but some say it was likely Diotisalvi, the same architect who had designed the Baptistry two decades earlier. Might he have been so ashamed by his faulty design that he 'forgot' to etch his name on the tower as he had done on every other edifice he had designed? We may never know. A century later, the architect Giovanni di Simone continued the project and tried to compensate for the tilt by building one side of the upper floors taller than the other, thus causing the tower to tilt in the other direction and giving it the curved appearance we see today. The final phase of construction occurred in the 14th century by the architect Tommaso di Andrea Pisano, who added the bell chamber at the top.

Travel Guide Trip & info's : www.madisonvillearts.org
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In general the weather is very hot and steaming in the dead of the summer. We recommend that you wear light clothing. Be sure to have sunglasses, hat and sunblock, as they are essential. Afternoon thunderstorms (brief) are common in Rome and inland cities, so you may want to consider bringing an umbrella. It is essential to follow dress standards (no bare shoulders or knees) and is strictly enforced in many churches, especially in Rome at St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums and at the Basilica di San Marco in Venice.
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Travel Guide Trip & info's : www.madisonvillearts.org

The renowned architect Bonanno designed this tower, begun in 1173. However, the moist, weak soil caused it to lean. Giovanni di Simone continued the work a century later, trying to rectify the lean. Later, Tommaso Pisano added the bell tower, with seven bells representing the notes of the musical scale of that time.

In the 1990s, the tower was closed for renovation. During my visit, the authorities were planning to reopen it soon.

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From the outset, one of my main goals for coming to Italy is to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was something I really wanted to do. And got to do - despite the bad weather that day (think: strong winds with heavy rain!).

But neither rain nor wind could prevent me from my goal. The first thing that I did on arriving in Pisa was to run to the ticket office behind the cathedral and book a climb. At 15 euros, it was not cheap, but that was immaterial. This is a priceless moment!

This is the most unique tower climbing I had in Italy. Because it leans, there are moments in the 300-step climb that seemed you were going down rather than up. It could be dizzying for some, but not for me. I enjoyed every step and second of it. And when you've arrived on top, the views are fantastic - even if the heavy winds and rain seem to knock you down and throw you off the tower till kingdom come.