Everyone scrambled to support the Leaning Tower of Pisa on a daily basis

By MOOK Scenic Spots / Mofei
 
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a tall tower located in Pisa, Province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. To its north lies a national architectural complex within the urban area. The adjacent cathedral, baptistery, and cemetery have all had a tremendous influence on Italian architectural art from the 11th to the 14th centuries, which is why it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the freestanding bell tower of the Cathedral of Pisa, situated behind the main cathedral, and is one of the three major structures in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Its construction began in 1173 and was originally designed to be built vertically. However, shortly after the project commenced, it started to tilt due to uneven foundation and soft soil layers. It was completed in 1372, with the tower leaning towards the southeast.

In the past, people once believed that the bell tower was intentionally designed to be tilted, but we now know that this is not the case. As the bell tower of the Cathedral of Pisa, it was originally designed to stand vertically, with plans for an eight-story structure reaching 54.8 meters in height. Its distinctive white exterior is a highly characteristic medieval-style building.

In the 14th century, Italy made one final effort for the bell tower, finally completing the originally planned eight floors and placing the bells intended for the tower on top. However, because they were concerned that the weight might cause the tower to become unbalanced, these bells were never actually rung.

Thanks to the efforts of modern scientists, the Leaning Tower of Pisa's tilt has been reduced from 5.5 degrees to its current 3.9 degrees, allowing people in the 21st century the chance to admire this architectural marvel.