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Location:
Europe,
Italy, Pisa
Category:
Famous
Landmark
Description:
View of
the
leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa
Cathedral Duomo
Location Information:
The
Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply the
Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is
the campanile, or freestanding bell
tower, of the cathedral of the
Italian city of Pisa. It is situated
behind the Cathedral and is the
third oldest structure in Pisa's
Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo)
after the Cathedral and the
Baptistry.
Although intended to stand
vertically, the tower began leaning
to the southeast soon after the
onset of construction in 1173 due to
a poorly laid foundation and loose
substrate that has allowed the
foundation to shift direction. The
tower currently leans to the
southwest.
The height of the tower is 55.86 m
(183.27 ft) from the ground on the
lowest side and 56.70 m (186.02 ft)
on the highest side. The width of
the walls at the base is 4.09 m
(13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m
(8.14 ft). Its weight is estimated
at 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short
tons). The tower has 296 or 294
steps; the seventh floor has two
fewer steps on the north-facing
staircase. Prior to restoration work
performed between 1990 and 2001, the
tower leaned at an angle of 5.5
degrees, but the tower now leans at
about 3.99 degrees.[4] This means
that the top of the tower is 3.9
metres (12 ft 10 in) from where it
would stand if the tower were
perfectly vertical
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