How tall it was meant to be: One of the lesser-known Leaning Tower of Pisa facts is that the tower was meant to be 60 meters tall. Although, the unfortunate flaw in the design resulted in the tower’s leaning and the bell tower stands at 57 meters in height.
The tower tilted: After the construction of the second floor, the tower started to tilt on one side due to the moist and clayey texture of the soil. However, the construction had to be paused for about 100 years due to the battle among Italian cities which strengthened the foundation over the years. It now stands with an exact tilt of 3.99 degrees.
The height after tilting: Today, the height of the tower of Pisa is measured at 57 meters. The taller side of the tower is about 56.67 meters tall, and the shorter side has a height of 55.86 meters.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa's height is 57 meters with the higher side at 56.67 meters and the lower side at 55.86 meters. Although, if measured from its foundational base, the Leaning Tower of Pisa height is about 58.36 meters. The height of the tower from its foundation matches the height of the Cathedral and Baptistery, which was the initial plan.
Most of the inside of Leaning Tower of Pisa is hollow as it was constructed to be a bell tower. Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa are two spiral staircases that take you to the top where 7 bells are installed. To climb to the top you need to ascend through more than 251 steps but the breathtaking panoramic view makes it all worth it.
As you step foot inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can instantly feel the 4-degree slant inside. The tilt is more apparent as you start to climb through the spiral staircases, however, there are windows throughout the climb where you can take a break and catch stunning views of the Cathedral complex. The hike to the top can be a bit challenging so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is mostly hollow from the inside with the spiral staircases ushering you to the top of the tower. The spiral steps take you through seven floors to the top and final eighth floor. There are more than 251 steps to the top of the tower, so make sure to wear comfortable sports shoes for the hike.
Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you will find 7 bells and the heaviest bell weighs 3,600 kilograms. The most interesting one of the Leaning Tower of Pisa facts is that each bell represents a different musical note. It was believed that vibrations of the ringing bells could force the tower to lean further and eventually tumble down.
Even though the climb through the 250-300 spiral steps is time-consuming and tiring, the view from the top is worth every bit. Once you reach the top of the bell tower you get magnificent views of the city and the Cathedral complex. It makes for a great sunset viewpoint during the evening.
-The Leaning Tower of Pisa history dates back to the 12th century. Its construction started in 1711 and was completed after two centuries in 1372.
-The construction started to tilt once the second level was completed which was due to a design flaw on the part of the engineer.
In 1990, the tower tipped to 5.5 degrees which was its maximum point of inclination. The Leaning Tower of Pisa history states that after several attempts made by engineers and architects to abstain from any further inclination, it now stands at a 3.99-degree tilt.
There are 7 huge bells located inside the hollow bell tower and the heaviest bell weighs 3,600 kgs. None of the bells have been manually rung since the 20th century.
The architecture of the bell tower was designed as a part of the church complex in Piazza Dei Miracoli with four buildings. The complex included the main Church, baptistery, bell tower, and cemetery. The bell tower was designed in a circular shape that was supposed to stand perpendicularly. All the buildings of the complex are built with beautiful white marble with medieval Romanesque architecture. The original plan was to erect the bell tower at a height of 60 meters. However, due to the unrelenting inclination, the bell tower’s height remains at 57 meters.
The engineer responsible for overseeing the bell tower construction had little knowledge of soil mechanism which led to the tower’s tilt. It took almost 200 years to completely build the tower and was completed in two phases. The Leaning Tower of Pisa history credits many architectures for its completion, the first phase of the construction was handled by Bonanno Pisano & Gherardo di Gherado while the second phase is credited to Giovanni Pisano & Tommaso Pisano. Many stabilization measures were undertaken by the Italian government to straighten the tower and to ensure that it does not descend. There are 7 huge bells installed inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa that haven't been rung since the 20th century due to the possibility of a collapse.
Location: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Cathedral Square, Italy.
Timings:December and January: 10 am to 5 pmMarch: 9 am to 6 pmApril to September: 9 am to 8 pmOctober: 9 am to 7 pmNovember and February: 9:45 am to 5 pm