Pisa
We visited the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa in 2004. The Piazza del Duomo complex contains the Duomo (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption), Baptistry, and the famous Leaning Tower. The Duomo construction began in 1063 and set the standard for the distinctive Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. Baptistry of St. John started construction in 1152 and was completed in 1363.
The Bell Tower, or better known as the Leaning Tower is located behind the cathedral. It was the last of the three major buildings on the piazza to be built. The construction began in 1691 and took place in three stages over the course of 177 years, with the bell-chamber only added in 1889. Five years after construction started the weak subsoil and poor foundation caused the building to start sinking on its south side. The building was left for a century, which allowed the subsoil to stabilize and prevented the building from collapsing. In the 1800’s construction was resumed with the remaining floors built with one side taller than the other to adjust for the lean of the building. When the building was completed the lean was approximately 1 degree. The greatest lean that was ever measured was prior to 1990 and was approximately 5.5 degrees,. A substantial effort was made to reduce the lean and save the tower. In 2010 the lean had been reduced to approximately 4 degrees.
Read MoreThe Bell Tower, or better known as the Leaning Tower is located behind the cathedral. It was the last of the three major buildings on the piazza to be built. The construction began in 1691 and took place in three stages over the course of 177 years, with the bell-chamber only added in 1889. Five years after construction started the weak subsoil and poor foundation caused the building to start sinking on its south side. The building was left for a century, which allowed the subsoil to stabilize and prevented the building from collapsing. In the 1800’s construction was resumed with the remaining floors built with one side taller than the other to adjust for the lean of the building. When the building was completed the lean was approximately 1 degree. The greatest lean that was ever measured was prior to 1990 and was approximately 5.5 degrees,. A substantial effort was made to reduce the lean and save the tower. In 2010 the lean had been reduced to approximately 4 degrees.
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