The Leaning Tower of Pisa "straightens up" — 2.5 cm corrected over 12 years

The 56-meter-tall, 14,500-ton Leaning Tower of Pisa had been tilting at a rate of 1 mm per year since 1990. To prevent it from collapsing completely, the local government reinforced the tower’s foundation during the 10 years it was closed, and through multiple projects such as removing groundwater beneath the tower and installing steel cables to stabilize it, the tower was straightened by 38 cm by the time the foundation reinforcement work was completed.

 

Technical director Giuseppe Bentivoglio stated that not only is the leaning degree of the Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually slowing down, but from 2011 to 2013 to the present, it has also been straightened back by another 2.5 cm. According to a research report by scholars from the University of Stuttgart, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will continue to straighten. "The current condition can be maintained for 200–300 years, and theoretically, the Leaning Tower of Pisa can be completely straightened!"

The Leaning Tower of Pisa brings 6 million tourists to Pisa each year. Seeing the tower gradually standing more upright, locals are concerned about losing its original charm, which could make it less attractive. Pisa Mayor Marco Filippeschi said: "The citizens of Pisa are very pleased to see the tower being restored, but really don’t want to see it completely straightened."

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