The most famous building in Pisa, and maybe the most famous bell tower in the world, is the Leaning Tower. Construction was started in the 12th century, but it was only two centuries later that it got finished. At the moment the more than 50 meters high Torre Pendente leans over about 5 meters.
Leaning Tower of Pisa, a brief history
The Torre Pendente, or “Leaning Tower of Pisa”, is the bell tower of the Cathedral of the city. Because of its subsoil, the tower is not the only leaning building on the Campo dei Miracoli, but it is decidedly the most eye-catching one.
According to Vasari, the tower may have been designed by one Maestro Guglielmo, who may have been of German origin, and Bonnanno Pisano. Guglielmo had also been responsible for the original pulpit of the Cathedral and Pisano for both the Porta di Ranieri and the central door of its facade.
In 1838, during excavations at the base of the tower, a sarcophagus was found, containing the remains of Bonnanno Pisano.
Work on the tower took a little longer than suspected: although a frieze indicates that construction had already started in 1173, it was not until the 2nd half of the 14th century that the seven bells were hung in the tower. With this the construction was considered to be finished. Even before the third floor had been completed, the Torre Pendente started to lean. Works were subsequently suspended, a suspension that ended up lasting almost a century.
Between 1272 and 1275, Giovanni di Simone, who had also designed the Camposanto, raised the tower to the 7th floor.
It was the youngest one of the Pisano brothers, Tommaso, who finally managed to add the bell chamber.
When the tower was only just finished, it was already leaning 1.4 meters at its highest point. In 1993 this was 5.4 meters.
The last restoration works were completed in 2008 and should keep the tower standing for at least the next 200 years.
What to see
The Campanile is placed in a rather unusual position. In general, bell towers either stand next to the facade or to one of the sides of the church. Pisa’s Campanile, however, stands relative far from the church. The closest part is the apse. The campanile is also not in line with the axis of the cathedral.
The total height of the Tower of Pisa, including the bell chamber (which has a smaller diameter than the other 7 floors), is 54.5 meters.
Although the subsoil is very loose and partly consists of silt, the foundation of the tower is only a 3 meter deep stone raft.
The tower has a spiral staircase winding around the hollow central part. Six of the eight floors have marble galleries on the outside.
To the right of the entrance there is an incision of a typical Pisan ship from when the city was an important naval power.
The relief to the left of the entrance portrays a bear, a basilisk and a goat, the one to right a bull, a basilisk and a bear.
Address, Opening hours and Admission
Opening hours: January: 10.00-17.00 hrs; February: 09.40-17.40 hrs; (until 25) March: 09.00-18.00 hrs; 25 March-17 June: 08.30-20.00 hrs; 17 June-31 August: 08.30-22.00 hrs; September: 08.30-20.00 hrs; October: 09.00-19.00 hrs; November: 09.40-17.40 hrs; December: 10.00-17.00 hrs. (The box office is open until 30 minutes before closing time.) Closed: Never. Entrance fee: 18 Euro. (Children under 8 are not allowed to climb the tower.) Address: Piazza del Duomo, snc – Pisa. Telephone: The Torre Pendente cannot be reserved by telephone. Public transport: Bus: 4, 21, E. (Opening times may vary during the Covid-crisis.)
Leaning Tower – Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
Bibliography
Luca Bertini, Pisa itinerari, guida alla visita della città .
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