Leaning Tower of Pisa
One of the signature landmarks of Italy, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that leans at 3.9 degrees off the vertical. This unique thing about this tower has grabbed the attention of millions of tourists for decades now. The Leaning Tower of Pisa height is 58 meters is officially called Duomo's campanile and locally, known as the bell tower.
Did you know, it took almost 200 years to complete the tower but now it truly lives up to its name? Inaugurated in 1372, over time, it started to tilt because of weak subsoil later and it worsened but was finally halted by a stabilization project in the 1990s.
The Pisa tower is one of the four buildings that make up the cathedral complex in Pisa, which is called Campo dei Miracoli or Piazza dei Miracoli, meaning Field of Miracles. The first one to be built was Duomo di Pisa (cathedral), and the next was the Square of Miracles, Baptistery after which Campo Santo (cemetery) was built.
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Overview of Leaning Tower of Pisa
| Location | City of Pisa |
| Address | Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy |
| Timings |
March 1st to 23rd: 9 am to 6 pm |
Highlights
- The best time to visit Leaning Tower of Pisa is from April to June and in September and October.
- Climb up the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa with an entrance ticket.
- Skip the long queue and visit the tower directly at your reserved time slot.
- Walk past the tower and admire its leaning structure and cathedral.
- Learn about the Leaning Tower of Pisa history through a guided tour.
- Gaze down at Cathedral Square and witness other top Pisa attractions like the Baptistery.
Leaning Tower of Pisa Ticket Prices
Here is the Leaning Tower of Pisa entrance fees -
- Leaning Tower of Pisa entry ticket: €24 (INR 2,106)
- Tickets to Pisa Monumental Complex with Leaning Tower, Opera Museum, Baptistry: €32.50 (INR 2,853)
- Trip to Pisa from Florence with Optional Leaning Tower Admission Ticket: €35 (INR 3,071)
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Pisa with Skip-the-Line Access to the Cathedral & Leaning Tower of Pisa: €75 (INR 6,582)
Note: These prices are subject to change at the time of booking.
About Leaning Tower of Pisa
The story behind Leaning Tower of Pisa is that in the 12th century, the construction began for the Pisa cathedral. It was a busy trade center on the Arno River. And while it was still under construction, the foundation of the tower began to sink into the soft, marshy ground, which caused it to lean on one side.
Now we have that on the side, let’s talk about how it all began.
The building began in 1173 under the architect Bonanno Pisano. But only three of the seven tiers of the tower were completed when the tower started leaning and he was forced to leave the construction.
In 1272, the construction resumed with masons and artisans but they failed. Once again, the work got suspended and construction wasn't finished until the second half of the 14th century.
For the next 600 years, the tower continued to lean at an estimated 1 mm per year. In 1993, it stood at 4.47m, over 5 degrees from the vertical. Thus, to counter this, steel braces were put around the 3rd storey and joined to steel cables attached to neighboring buildings.
After extracting 70 tonnes of earth from the north side of the tower, it sank to its 18th-century level, leaving a height of 43.8cm.
Thus, access to the inside Leaning Tower of Pisa is limited to 45 visitors at one time, and children under 8 aren’t allowed.
As far as the architecture goes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy is the crowning glory of the country. It has 207 columns around eight stories and looks like a huge wedding cave knocked clumsily.
The bottom story of the tower has 15 marble arches and each of the next six has 30 arches. The last and final storey is the bell chamber with 16 arches. Also, you have to climb the 297 steps spiral staircase inside the tower to witness the breathtaking Leaning Tower of Pisa sunset.
Another important thing to know is that until recent years tourists were not permitted to climb the staircase due to consolidation work.
Interesting Facts about Leaning Tower of Pisa
- The tower took almost two centuries to complete.
- The Leaning Tower is meant as part of an extensive architectural complex.
- This tower is a world heritage site.
- This tower was not leaning initially.
- There are more leaning towers in Pisa.
- You have to climb 296 steps to reach the top of the Leaning Tower.
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FAQs for Leaning Tower of Pisa
Ans: The Leaning Tower of Pisa location is in the city of Pisa, Italy.
Ans: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in Italy.
Ans: The Leaning Tower of Pisa architect is a mystery. However, the two most accredited architects named to complete the first phase of the building are Bonanno Pisano and Gherardo din Gherardo. The second phase started in 1275 when architect Giovani di Simone was looking over this project. Tommaso Pisano finished the tower work.
Ans: The Leaning Tower of Pisa has eight stories, which includes the chamber for the bells.