The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in Piazza dei Miracoli in the northern Italian city of Pisa (Square of MiraclesThe bell tower of the city cathedral, which was built between 1063 and 1090, was built in 1173 separately from the main building.
The tower consists of a series of 6 overlapping round columns. It is 56 meters high. It is reached by a staircase with 294 steps. The 8th floor, where the top bells are located, is cylindrical.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa started to lean towards the south from the date it was finished. This is due to a collapse in the soft ground at the foundation. Today, a plumb hanging from the top of the tower in the south direction descends 4,3 meters. However, since the projection of the center of gravity of the building remains inside its own foundation circle, the tower does not overturn. The tower leans seven-tenths of a millimeter per year (100 cm in 0,7 years). The current inclination of the tower is 5,5 degrees.
The tower was built as a symbol of Pisa's power and wealth, rivaling Genoa and Venice.
It is claimed that Galileo observed that all objects fall at the same speed and obeying the same physical law, by dropping two cannonballs of different weights down from this tower. Although the source of the information was a student of Galileo, this claim is widely accepted as a myth.
The tower was kept closed for repairs between 1990-2001.
Italy's famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, which was on the verge of collapse due to the collapse on its ground, was saved with a £20 million project. The tower, which was warned to be demolished in a few years, was restored with a 45 cm leveling work carried out within the scope of the project.
Technical information
- Miracoli Square Height: About 2 meters
- Height: 55,863 meters (183 ft 3 in), 8 floors
- Outer Diameter: 15,484 meters
- Inner Diameter: 7,368 meters
- Tilt angle: 5.5° degrees or 4.5° degrees (from vertical)
- Weight: 14.700 t (tonnes)
- Wall thickness: 2,4 meters (8 ft)
- Total number of Bells: 7
- Steps to the bell tower: 294
Be the first to comment