The Tower, Pisa

Like every other tourist we went to see the tower. It is quite a site , we had heard about it for ages. Itbwas built in 1200, and took 99 years to complete. When we were there engineers for all over the world were trying to re- enforce it so it wouldn't fall . That indeed would be a tragedy!!

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If you are in Pisa spend some time and photograph the tower from different angles. Also be sure and walk around the town. Go down by the river, it is especially nice in the evenings.
Take more than one or two shots of the tower. Get up close and enjoy the art work on the outside.
In the summer, make a picnic of the whole thing. There's lots of grass to sit on.
No littering.....

The most popular tourist attraction in Pisa has to be the leaning tower of Pisa. Many Italians believe it was an amazing feat of engineering, but most Pisans think it was an embarrasing mistake. Make your own mind up.

La Torre di Pisa. The belltower of Pisa is famous for its' apparent ongoing fight with gravity. Its' contruction begain in 1173 and continued, on and off, for about twoo hundred years. It soon became obvious that the tower was leaning, which geologists and architects now attribute to soil where the tower stands.

A few people at a time are allowed to climb the tower, but the line is long and we didn't feel like waiting. Look by the main road next to the tower and Cathedral and you'll see spots where you can stand and take the very touristy (but very neccessary) pictures of trying to hold the tower up or pretending it's falling on you.

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It is a bell tower, and in its top hangs a chime of ancient bells.
— Mark Twain, “Innocents Abroad,” Chapter 24, 1869

It’s why everyone comes to Pisa: to see the tower that leans but doesn’t fall over.

Begun in 1173, the cylindrical campanile’s incline is the result of uneven settling of the foundation. Builders, reaching the third order by 1185, had already noticed that the tower had started to lean by 1.5 inches. Masons inserted wedge-shaped stones to correct the problem, but this only made the tower start to tilt the other way. Work came to a halt, and resumed in 1275 when another three stories were added. Finally in 1350 a belfry was added at the top. The tower is 52 feet across and 180 feet to the top.

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Yes, the Pisa Tower is not the only leaning tower in the world but it is the most famous and remarkable. I cannot imagine myself being in Italy and not visiting the most popular and the main tourist attraction in the city of Pisa. It is different with its beautiful romanesque architectural design which really amazed me. The Pisa Tower is circular in shape, built with limestone and lime mortar. It's exterior is covered with marble that made it so unique. For Italians, it is called Tonve Pendente di Pisa.

Although the construction of the tower started as early as Year 1173, it was not completed until the year 1350. Can you imagine how long that is? The construction is obviously not continuous due to wars that Pisa were involved and fought with.

I did not have the chance to climb the steps of the tower due to time constraint, but I can assure you that coming to the tower is worth a visit. Come along with me on my next visit, and when we are there, let's lean with the tower.

The building of tower began into 1173 but belfry began to heel. The soil sagged because of the overloading, which led to the inclination of construction. After special works the tower stoped to heel and now it is opened for visitors.

there are times(decades) when the tower wasn`t open to the public.

i guess these days are now the best times to go because tourists are allowed to go on top for a certain fee.

there`s not much to see inside but i guess just knowing that you`re following galileo`s footsteps is a thrill.

honestly, i prefer looking at it from the outside and watching other tourists tilt their heads to the side too. it`s kinda funny!