 The tower is actually only a bell tower of
a cathedral but has always been considered one of the Seven Wonders
of the World. It leans and almost seems to be on the verge of
toppling over. But somehow the perpendicularly challenged tower has
survived for centuries. Innumerable efforts to correct its tilt
have proved fruitless. So what gives? It is the shifting subsoil
foundation that cannot bear such heavy marble. Various solutions
were tried out once the architect took notice of the lean in 1185.
It took centuries to build thereafter and dropped out public
imagination till a certain home grown genius -Galileo Galilee
dropped some wooden balls leaning side to prove to the world that
gravity works the same irrespective of size. THE LOCATION
The bell tower is unique both in its intrinsic artistic value as
well as its location on what is commonly known as Piazza De
Miracoli. Unlike other bell towers, it occupies a side that is
disproportionately to one side. It assumes an inimitable
significance if you see it in the context of its surroundings. In
medieval times, if you were traveling down the junction between the
Piazza and the via Santa Marie, the tower would loom large.
Moreover, strangely there is an architectural continuity between
the ground floor of the tower and Cathedral. Apparently the tower
was the focal point of the town- visible from all sides- even from
river. It was the connection between the city and the outside
world- a point of reference as well as a symbol of pride of
Pisa.MEASUREMENT
The tower raises to 258.6 mts from the foundation and 55 mts from
the ground. The subsoil had to bear his enormous weight of around
14.453, tons and the center of gravity is about 22.6 high. The
exterior foundation itself spans stands about 19.5 mts with a
central aperture of 4.5mts. The Pisan towers leans to about 55 j
-that is about 10%.THE ARCHITECT
The architect of the wonder of this world has never been fully
pinpointed. The person's education and culture as well as Pisan
tradition points to Bonnaio Pisano. Recent repudiation has thrown
up Diotiaslve as the possible architect. But the Baptistry that he
had planned is not very similar to that of the tower. It was
presumably completed over a long period of time with instructions
been given at different times by various architects including De
Simione.THE BUILDING
The tower is actually a building attempt followed by attempts to
it's minimize risk of toppling over. It has taken the shape of
cylindrical body of machinery fortified with arcades and arches and
columns that rest on the base. These are topped by a belfry. The
central structure is hollow and has a spiral stairway of 239 steps
ending in the sixth arcade. Here, the internal well ends and opens
into excess for the belfry above and to the lower intermediate
areas. Decorations populate the arches and there is the 14th
century statue of Madonna and the Child. Animals and imaginary
beasts, ships etc are edged in the friezes. The cylindrical belfry
has decorations of closed and pierced lunelles.You can reach a
belfry through a narrow spiral stair that extends up to the
tumid.THE PROBLEM OF LEANING
Experts have been divided whether the problem was of static or was
a result of inevitable sinking of the ground or even an effect
consciously designed by the architects. Tests during the 20th
century have conclusively proved that the inclination began after
the construction. The study of the subsoil has revealed an
inter-layered clayish material washed by subterranean waters. The
causes of the leaning are not far to see.
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