About Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a free-standing bell tower that was built during the 12th century. Standing tall at a height of 57 meters, the bell tower is widely known for its architectural flaw that causes it to lean. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a bell tower built as a part of the Cathedral complex which includes the Church, Baptistery, and Cemetery in the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) of Pisa.

The beautiful bell tower is hollow from the inside and is home to 7 giant bells that were meant to be rung manually. It was constructed to be a bell tower for the Church of the Cathedral complex, however today, its unique architecture has caused it to stand out from all the other structures nearby. The white marble and Romanesque-Gothic architecture of the bell tower and other buildings in the complex is truly a vision to behold. It was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 along with the other three structures of the complex.

Height of Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • 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.

Explore The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Tower is 58.36 meters Tall

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.

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What's Inside?

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.

Leaning Tower of Pisa
Feeling the Tilt

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.

It takes 296 steps to reach the top of the Leaning Tower
Spiral Staircases

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.

It takes 296 steps to reach the top of the Leaning Tower
Bells on Top

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.

Leaning Tower of Pisa View from the Top
View From the Top

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.

History Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower Of Pisa

-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.

Architecture & Construction of Leaning Tower of Pisa

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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.

Facts About Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • A lesser-known Leaning Tower of Pisa fact is that it was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World of the ancient world.

  • It took almost two centuries to complete the building of the bell tower.

  • If everything remains constant the Leaning Tower of Pisa will resume tilting in the next 200 years.

  • The Cathedral complex in which the bell tower resides is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • When the construction of the third level was resumed, the tilt of the tower changed its direction due to the disturbance to its center of gravity.

Know Before You Go

Location & Timings
How To Reach
Best Time To Visit
Essential Information
Visitor Tips
Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • 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

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