What's inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa and is it still falling today? (4 photos)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most recognizable architectural structures in the world. Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to see the bell tower every year.





Leaning Tower of Pisa

However, having the opportunity to look at the building from the outside, few people know what is inside.

Why did medieval Italians build a complex 56-meter bell tower, and is it so beautiful inside?

Why was the Leaning Tower of Pisa built?

“You will fall forever, reminding people of the treachery of officials who did not pay the architect who built you.”

According to legend, Bonanno Pisano cursed his creation when he was not given his fee.

It is known that the bell tower was founded in 1173. The first master to take on its implementation was the Italian sculptor Bonanno Pisano.

According to the project, the tower was supposed to have 12 floors. However, due to the mistake of the first architect, who unsuccessfully calculated the density of the soil and the depth of the foundation, the builders stopped at eight.



Construction site next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The building took 177 years to build. It is curious that the creation was completed by Bonanno’s namesake, Tomasso Pisano. For the next 650 years, scientists and builders desperately tried to stop the inevitable fall of the tower. The bell tower continued to tilt by 1 mm per year.

The building was saved only in 2008. Then, using the method of steel counterweights and digging from the north side (the tower tilts to the south), the builders managed to slightly “sink” the foundation and give the structure stability.

Why did the Italians even decide to build such a tall and complex bell tower, since for the Middle Ages a tower 56 meters high was considered a real skyscraper?

To increase prestige. At that time, Pisa was a developed and prosperous region, with a strong navy, army and scientific potential.





Tourists were better able to support the tower before strengthening the foundation

Just as today the United Arab Emirates competes in the height of skyscrapers, so the Pisans once tried to prop up the sky.

What's inside the tower?

The tower is hollow from the inside. There are no rooms inside. The center is a classic pipe shaft.

A spiral staircase is laid between the inner and outer walls. There is a gallery on each floor.

The cost of a ticket to the bell tower reaches 18 euros. Despite the impressive price, there is a huge queue at the entrance.



Leaning Tower of Pisa inside

Tickets were sold on the official website of the museum complex. Experienced tourists were puzzled by this question very much in advance, since on the eve of the visit there were no more free tickets left.

What pushes tourists to go inside? Only a top view, from which you can look at the roof of the nearby Cathedral and the panorama of the city.

Have you climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Share your impressions!