How many leaning towers are there in the world? Leaning Tower of Pisa: tour, photos and history. Bell tower of the Upper Church in Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäuser

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, perhaps, can be classified as a landmark not only of Italy, but also of the world. And who, besides the numerous historians and thousands of tourists who visit Pisa every year, would be interested in this tower if it were not for its “curvature” and it stood straight, like thousands of other towers in the world? The famous “leaning” tower is the bell tower of the cathedral in the city of Pisa, part of a rare beauty architectural ensemble, consisting, in addition to the bell tower and the cathedral, also of a baptismal chapel and a cemetery. If the Leaning Tower of Pisa did not tilt, but stood strictly vertically, like all the other towers in the world, its fame would probably be limited only to a narrow circle of architects and historians. Thanks to its design flaw, it is known throughout the world.

Very often, this world-famous building is considered to be some kind of independent structure, standing somewhere on the outskirts and living its own independent life... In fact, this is not so. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of the ensemble of the city cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa. The tower is the bell tower of the cathedral and is adjacent to its north-eastern corner. The famous cathedral ensemble in Pisa is a masterpiece of medieval Italian architecture.


The Leaning Tower of Pisa is rightfully the symbol of the city. On August 9, 1174, on the outskirts of Pisa, on a green meadow, the building of the ensemble of the city cathedral was laid, which included a white marble five-nave cathedral, a bell tower and a baptistery-baptistery. Thus, on a square remote from the city center, one of the outstanding works of the Middle Ages was formed, which had a huge impact on the development Italian culture.. But since the Pisan calendar, as it turned out, was one year ahead of the generally accepted one, the real date of the start of construction should be considered 1173. However, the foundation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was laid unevenly. Construction was stopped and resumed only 100 years later. Only then did it become clearly visible that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was “falling” leaning to the south. Since continuous measurements of the tower began in 1911, the top has been recorded as tilting at 1.2 millimeters per year. Today, the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted 5.3 m from the center.


The architects of the tower were Bonnano Pisano and Wilhelm von Innsbruck, but both of them were not destined to see the final completion of their plan. By the way, until the second half of the 14th century, the tower remained without a belfry crowning it.

It has been suggested that the curvature of the tower was originally intended by the architects to demonstrate their prowess and extraordinary architectural skill. But this hypothesis is not very plausible. What is more likely is that the architects knew that they were building on an extremely unreliable foundation, and therefore built into the building design the possibility of easy deviation.


The “leaning” tower has a cylindrical shape and rushes upward with its eight tiers (counting the belfry). Its six central floors are bordered by elegant decorative arcades, the appearance of which may have been influenced by the Byzantine or Muslim architectural tradition. The question of possible Muslim influences is doubly interesting, since it is still not clear whether the idea of ​​a free-standing bell tower in Christian church architecture arose under the influence of Muslim minarets, or, on the contrary, these minarets themselves, from the heights of which the muezzins called believers to pray, trace their own ancestry from Christian bell towers. The tower is decorated with ornaments made of colored marble (white and light gray). At the entrance there are bas-reliefs depicting fantastic animals, at the top there is a lunette with a sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Andrea Guardi

The architecture of the ensemble had big influence on the monumental art of Italy of the XII-XIV centuries.

Although the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted, the bell tower, built in the second half of the 14th century at the top of the tower, stands straight.


In 1564, Galileo Galilei, the future famous scientist, was born in Pisa. Judging by his own stories, he used the Leaning Tower of Pisa for his experiments. From its upper floor he threw various objects to prove that the speed of the fall does not depend on the weight of the falling body.

The Pisa Cathedral contains several burial places of various historical figures, including the tomb of the German Emperor Henry VII.

Throughout the life of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, efforts have been constantly made to make the tower more stable. For example, collapsing columns were replaced several times. Now mostly underground work is being carried out to strengthen the foundation.


In 2008, scientists once again declared that the further fall of the Leaning Tower of Pisa had been stopped. Prior to this, despite numerous efforts to “freeze”, the tower continued to deviate from the vertical at a rate of 1 mm per year.


Well, a few words about the Pisa Cathedral, which, like the tower, is part of the ensemble on the Pisa Square of Miracles


Pisa Cathedral- an outstanding example of the architectural style developed in Pisa and later defining dozens of Tuscan churches. It stands in the same place as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on the Square of Miracles, which, one might say, is crammed with architectural masterpieces, so ancient city there is something to be proud of.


Construction of the cathedral began in 1063; it was the first temple building in Italy with a cruciform plan and a central cross under the dome. The material was snow-white marble with gray-black stripes. The three portals are framed by columns and flat arches. The façade is topped with smaller arcades, arranged in several tiers above each other, which gives the pediment plane an elegant swiftness. The interior is decorated with a gilded ceiling and a magnificent Gothic pulpit by father and son Pisano. In the apse stands a colossal figure of the Savior. Pisan architects complemented the Lombard style with Arabic elements, creating a unique language of Romanesque forms, the sophistication of which no one else could achieve.

In front of the five-nave cathedral there is a baptistery (by the way, this is the world's largest baptismal font), which, together with the Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, forms a single architectural ensemble that adorns the Square of Miracles, which is recognized as one of the main centers of medieval art on the planet.


This square is interesting because the Pisa Cathedral is also slightly inclined - just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and just like the Baptistery, by the way.


People often mistakenly take Square of Miracles for the Field of Miracles, that legendary place where Pinocchio tried to grow a money tree, and they wonder: is it really here?..


Excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Every visitor to the city of Pisa can climb this bell tower. The price of the excursion is 18 euros, and there are no children's tickets. Children under 8 years old are strictly prohibited from climbing here; teenagers under 18 years old can only go on an excursion if accompanied by an adult.

Such measures are not accidental, because there are simply no barriers on all floors of the building (note the picture on the right), nothing protects visitors from accidental falls. The floor, like the entire structure, is made of marble and is quite slippery. Guides say that there have been cases of tourists falling into the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The ticket for the excursion is sold strictly for a specific time, the visit to the attraction itself takes 30 minutes. If you do not arrive at the required time, you will not be allowed in, so be careful. Moreover, if you come here on your own, there may not be any tickets available at all, since the group size is limited.

However, we did not hear from any of the travelers that there were no tickets at all. It happened that there were no tickets for the next show, and tourists had to wait a little.

Tickets can be purchased online, but this is not so easy. The official website http://www.opapisa.it/ does not have a Russian version, but there is part of the site in English. Even if you know English language, you will not be able to buy tickets there. Tickets are only sold on the Italian part of the site. To buy a ticket, on this page - http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Turisti/ click on the word PURCHASE, which is located directly under the British flag. Next, you will need to select a ticket and pay for it using a credit card.

The administration warns:

It is strictly prohibited to bring any bags or other items on the tour. An exception is made only for photo and video cameras. All items can be put in a special wardrobe.

It is strictly forbidden to walk along the vernal passages. Although many tourists go.

It is forbidden to pass under the bells, it is forbidden to ring the bells.

There are still railings on the 7th and 8th floors, but you can’t lean over them either.

Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not recommended for people with a fear of heights.

Also keep in mind that the tower is more than 50 meters high and there are 296 steps leading up. You will have to go through them all on foot, rely on your strength.

There are seven bells in total, and they form a scale of notes. Theoretically, they could play music, but they don't.

This is where the tour ends. It is difficult to say how unforgettable the experience you will get from climbing to the very top. In fact, there is nothing very unusual in an excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, just “check the box” that you were at the most popular attraction in Italy.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually leaned until 2008. In 1964, the Italian government proposed to completely straighten the structure, but the city authorities categorically refused, since it was the leaning tower that attracted tourists.

In 2008, when the angle of inclination reached 5.5 degrees, it was decided to straighten it a little.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted? And how the tilt was corrected.

The project of the bell tower for the Cathedral of Pisa was unsuccessful. The depth of the foundation was only three meters, which was clearly not enough for a structure more than 50 meters high. The fact that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was crooked was noticed almost immediately, but they did not pay serious attention since the war began.

The leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa increased, but very slowly, and in the 20th century it had already become dangerous, amounting to 5.5 degrees. Something had to be done urgently, and in 1990 a complex engineering operation began to level the building.

This was the second such operation. The first was carried out in the 19th century, when groundwater was removed from under the foundation, but this did not help.

It’s worth saying right away that no one set out to make the bell tower completely straight, since this is not interesting to the authorities of the city of Pisa. They want the leaning tower because it is what attracts tourists.

Of course, no excavators were used. The soil was removed slowly and carefully using special pipes.

In 2001, engineers announced that the Leaning Tower of Pisa had stabilized its tilt and would not fall for the next 300 years. Responsible for the project were: Professor Michel Jamiolkowski of the Polytechnic University of Turin and Professor Carlo Viggiani of the University of Naples.

We will end this article with the exact characteristics of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, given in the table:

Have a good time visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa and read about other attractions of Italy in our articles ( links below).

On August 9, 1173, the first stone was laid for the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the most famous “leaning” tower in the world. It turns out that there are not so few such structures. You will learn about the ten most famous ones from our selection.

1. Suurhusen Church, Germany

Suurhusen is a late medieval building in the East Friesland region of northwestern Germany. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it was the most inclined tower in the world, although in 2010 the new Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi broke this record. The Suurhusen spire remains the world's most leaning tower, with its tilt beating the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa by 1.22 degrees.

2. Big Ben, London, UK

British Parliament Clock Tower (better known as Big Ben) is inclined to the northwest by 0.26 degrees or 43.5 cm, according to documents that were recently made public. The level of inclination has increased to 0.9 millimeters per year since 2003, affected by constant underground work and the London Underground.

3. Two Towers of Bologna, Italy

The two towers Asinelli and Garisenda in the city of Bologna are steadily falling despite all the efforts of the city authorities, High tower called Asinelli, smaller but more deviated Garisenda, its deviation from the vertical is already 3.22 m

4. Frankenhausen Church Tower, Germany

A tower on a hillside on the outskirts of the city is constantly exposed to strong winds. Engineers noticed that the rate at which the tower is now falling is 6 cm per year. In this case, it could reach a tipping point within the next decade or so. Local and state officials agreed to spend $1.5 million to try to stabilize the tower.

5. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Built on soft clay, the tower began to fall several years after construction began. When completed in 1350, the tower leaned about four and a half feet. By 1990, the tower had leaned another 15 feet, authorities had spent nearly two million pounds of lead on ingots to be placed on one of its sides to prevent it from falling.

6. Nevyansk Tower, Russia

The Nevyansk Tower also falls. The tower is located in the center of Nevyansk and is one of the most famous in the Middle Urals. The construction was financed by Peter the Great and was built in the first half of the 18th century by the famous Russian builder Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the tower is 57.5 m. According to the latest measurements, the deviation of the top of the tower with a right angle is currently 2.20 m. The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, various historical sources mention dates between 1721 and 1745.

7. Tiger Hill Pagoda

Tiger Hill Pagoda or Huqiu Tower is located in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The tower was built during the later Five Dynasties period (907-960 AD). The tower rises at a height of 47 m. It is a seven-story building built in blue brick octagons. For more than a thousand years, the tower has gradually tilted due to the influence of natural forces. The tilt of the tower is 2.32 meters. The entire structure weighs about 7,000,000 kg.

8. Burana Tower, Italy

The Burana Tower, or the Church of St. Martino, is located on the Venetian island of Burana. The building was built in the 15th century, it does not fall because it rests on a nearby building

9. Oude Kerk, Netherlands

Oude Kerk ( Old Church), nicknamed Oude Jan ("Old John"), is a Gothic Protestant church in the old center of Delft, the Netherlands. At 75 meters high, it is 1.98 cm off the vertical.

10. Bedum Tower, Netherlands

The Bedum Tower in the northern Dutch town of Bedum also leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 55.86m high, the Tower of Pisa leans about 4m, while the Bedum Tower leans 2.61m (8.6 ft) at a height of 35.7m.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has become a common noun meaning unstable or falling structures.

How could it happen that a seemingly typical bell tower at the temple of an ordinary city became world famous? It's all about its tilt, which creates the illusion of falling. And although it was by no means intentional and in no way a consequence of the unprofessionalism of the builders, the visual effect was impressive - for centuries!

Meanwhile, the name of the building has undeservedly become synonymous with unsuccessful construction. The architects and builders of that time really made a serious miscalculation by starting to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa on an area characterized by excessively soft soil. Only this did not in any way affect the historical and cultural value of the attraction: the Leaning Tower of Pisa still stands out among the many oldest and the most beautiful monuments in the Apennines.

In general, there are about three hundred “falling” buildings in the world. But the unique beauty of the airy, openwork arcades, the famous belfry and rich story The Leaning Tower of Pisa makes it a priceless architectural treasure, setting it apart from the rest. And therefore, quite deservedly, in 1986 it, along with the cathedral, the adjacent square and the baptistery, was included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

History of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa and Basilica in the 1830s

The grandiose construction of the “falling” beauty lasted almost 200 years with long breaks. It began during the heyday of the Pisan Republic as a maritime state (by the way, the first Italian maritime power). The construction of the architectural ensemble was planned far from the city center.

Stages of construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The first stage of construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was led by Guglielmo Innsbruck and Bonnano Pisano. On August 9, 1173, work began. At first, a different date was in use - 1174, until researchers realized and corrected it: after all, the republic had its own calendar, which was a whole year ahead of the generally accepted one.

Observation deck of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

First, they laid a foundation 3 meters deep. Then, as usual, they waited a year. It was here - after the first floor and two tiers with colonnades were erected - that the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa became noticeable. Work was suspended. In 1198, the soil was strengthened and the building was opened. An interesting fact remains that during construction the tower tilted in different directions: first to the north, then to the south.

The next stage began 35 years later, at the end of 1233. The management of such a complex object was taken over by employee Benenato, the son of Gerardo Botici. Around this time, half of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built.

The sculpture "Fountain of Cupids" is located in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Great progress in the work began when Giovanni di Simone joined the construction. At the end of 1264, stone quarrying began in the mountains near Pisa for the construction of the tower. The processing of building materials was carried out by master Reinaldo Speciale.

View of the Leaning Tower of Pisa from bottom to top

Since 1272, Giovanni di Simone supervised the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He decided to try to compensate for the slope by raising the ceiling level on one side by 10 centimeters. But hopes were not justified: this only increased the curvature. In 1275 the 5th floor was completed. The deviation from the central axis exceeded 50 centimeters.

Tower bell

In 1284, the Pisan Republic suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Meloria for supremacy in the Mediterranean. A period of decline began and construction was stopped again.

Steps in the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The next mention of the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa dates back to 1319. The bell was raised to the sixth tier and placed in the arch opening. The final stage of construction was led by Tomasso. He was the son of Andrea Pisano, the famous Italian builder, architect and jeweler. In 1350, construction of the bell tower began. Finally, in 1372, the grandiose construction was completed. By the time the work was completed, the deviation from the central axis was 1.43 meters.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa turned out completely different from what was originally planned. Instead of a 10-story building, 98 meters high with a roof over the bell tower, only 8 floors were built. Today the height of the building is 55.86 meters on the south side and 56.7 meters on the north side.

The main question surrounding the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa has always been: “Why is it falling?” Many versions have been put forward on this matter. There was even a bold assumption that this was intended. The most likely reason for the tilt is considered to be an insufficiently deep foundation in conditions of heterogeneous clay soil that is prone to subsidence.

Leaning Tower of Pisa in detail

Architectural features

Although the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself is tilted, the bell tower, built in the second half of the 14th century. at the top of the tower, stands straighter

The outer and inner diameters of the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa are 18.484 m and 10.368 m, respectively. The weight of the tilted Italian beauty is 14,700 tons. It has 294 steps. The thickness of the walls at the base is also impressive - on average 4.05 meters, which decreases towards the top (at the base it is 4.9 m, and at the height of the galleries it is already 2.48 m). The current tilt of the tower is estimated by experts at 3° 54".

Leaning Tower of Pisa at sunset

In the appearance of the grandiose structure, features of Romanesque, Byzantine and arab cultures. To some scientists, the Leaning Tower of Pisa resembles a mosque or minaret. It is noteworthy that the bell tower is located at a distance from the cathedral, which is not typical for Christian churches. This circumstance led to the assumption that there may have been some influence of the Muslim architectural tradition. Or vice versa: the idea of ​​a free-standing bell tower first arose in Christian church architecture, and the younger Islam then adopted it. Many scientists and religious scholars are still arguing about this, and have not come to a common denominator.

Lunette of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is made of stone, richly decorated with light gray and white marble. The first floor is monolithic, with blind arches, which are formed by 15 columns with caissons. The rosettes with which they are decorated repeat the decor of the cathedral and baptistery. Next there are six tiers. The outer wall of each floor is an open gallery, decorated with intricate patterns and ornaments. Thirty columns of each tier with classical capitals rest on closed arches. These graceful arcades are repeated in the cathedral building, uniting the entire ensemble. The decorative decoration embodies the features of Byzantine architecture.

Lower tier

The belfry is located above the sixth tier of the arcades. The bell tower is less inclined from the central axis and stands straight. This gives the building a banana shape. At the entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa you can see amazing bas-reliefs. At the top, in the space between the arches, there is a sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Andrea Gardi. The inner cylinder of the tower is made of brick. The space between the walls is hollow. It is visible from the tower through observation windows. The building has three spiral staircases.


Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa there is a huge open hall, decorated with bas-reliefs depicting fantastic animals. Along the circumference of the wall spiral staircase leads to the upper tier. At the foot it is wide, and at the top the span is only about 40 centimeters wide. The steps are made of marble, and in some places they are very worn. The stairs lead to the observation deck of the tower.

Tourists enjoy visiting the Hall of Fishes. It is so called because of the images of sea animals. Previously, this room was closed for tours. There were instruments here that monitored the angle of inclination of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Stars are visible through a hole in the ceiling of the hall during a night visit. The spectacle is unforgettable: you feel as if you are in a real observatory.

Belfry tower

The bell tower is rightfully considered the most beautiful in Italy, and it appeared on the Leaning Tower of Pisa only in the second half of the 14th century. Each of the seven bells is tuned to a different note and has its own history. The first, oldest, is called Pasquarreccia, made in the middle of the 13th century. It is tuned to G flat. The Terza bell is responsible for the note B-sharp; it appeared in the belfry in 1473. Vespuccio's bell was cast in 1501 (note E). Vincenzo Posenti made the Crocifisso (C sharp) bell, which was melted down by the master Gualandi da Prato in 1818.

During World War II, the Dal Pozo bell was destroyed. After restoration it was placed in a museum. Its exact copy has been on the belfry since 2004. The largest bell, the Assunta (the name translates as "ascension"), is tuned to the note B. It weighs 3.5 tons and was made by Giovanni Pietro Orlandi. In 1735 the bell was melted down.

Pisans and visitors to the city can enjoy the church chime at exactly noon. It is impossible to describe its beauty and melody - you should definitely hear it for yourself!

Sunny day in Pisa

Restoration work

The Leaning Tower of Pisa only stopped falling in 2008!

Almost from the very beginning of construction, efforts were made to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The first commission was created in 1298. For centuries, people have tried to preserve this architectural miracle. To preserve the unique structure, unprecedented measures are being taken in our time. Only by 2008 was it possible to stop the “fall” of the tower.

Evening in Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is already more than 650 years old, if you count from the time of completion of construction, which makes it one of the oldest buildings not only in the city itself, but also in the country as a whole. Without restoration work, the Leaning Tower of Pisa would hardly have been preserved, and almost all architects and historians agree on this opinion. Activities to maintain the facility in its original form were carried out in different eras and, accordingly, varied in complexity: from replacing collapsing columns on the outside of the building to remelting the bells. And in order to prevent the Leaning Tower of Pisa from collapsing and to preserve it, truly titanic efforts were made. In 1934, liquid cement was introduced into the foundation.

Entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The authorities of Pisa even announced a competition for the best option"leveling" the building. There were many proposals. Some were quite original. For example, erect a monument to the “unlucky” architect Bonnano Pisano so that he can prop up his brainchild. Or build a symmetrical tower nearby, but with an opposite slope. But jokes are jokes, and they approached the work with all seriousness, building an experimental model nearby.

Piazza dei Miracoli

In 1989 in Italian city Pavia (Lombardy region) the bell tower at the cathedral collapsed. This caused concern: what if something similar happens to the Leaning Tower of Pisa? It was decided to take care of its preservation in advance - through the next restoration. So, in the early 90s the facility was closed to visitors. In 1992, 18 steel rings surrounded the first arcade gallery. Lead counterweights with a total weight of 600 tons were placed on the north side of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Safety supports were installed on the side of the slope. First, the technique was tested on a model, and only then they began to carry out unique work. Through a system of casing pipes and with the help of a special drill, soil was literally taken out in handfuls from under the northern part of the structure. The goal was to achieve subsidence of the tower on this side and level the structure.

At the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa Paskvercha Bell

Italian authorities allocated $27 million for rescue legendary building, and the enormous expenditure was rewarded. The tilt angle decreased by one and a half degrees. In 2001, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was reopened to tourists. Today the difference between the two sides of the foundation is about two meters. According to the optimistic forecasts of scientists, the Pisa beauty should stand for at least another 300 years. As it was announced, since 2008, a greater deviation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa from the central axis, thanks to the efforts made, has not yet been observed. Before this, the slope increased by a millimeter every year.

Summarizing the above, one thing can be noted: despite its “shaky position,” the Leaning Tower of Pisa turned out to be more stable than many “flat” buildings, and not only in Italy. During its existence, it experienced several major earthquakes, but survived and continues to delight not only travelers, but also local residents its appearance – original and unique.

Panorama Memorial plaque to Galileo Galilei

They say that a native of Pisa, the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei conducted his equally famous experiments on the tower. The scientist wanted to prove that all bodies, regardless of their mass, fall down at the same speed. To do this, he dropped various objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and measured the time of fall. Galileo, according to his student Vincenzo Viviani, also studied the amplitude of the pendulum's oscillations from the walls of the tower. Unfortunately, these facts remain unconfirmed, although there is no reason to doubt their veracity or plausibility.

Standing in the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can see the starry sky

But Donna Berta di Bernardo’s contribution to the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been proven. The woman bequeathed 60 soldi for its construction. This money was spent on the purchase of stones, which are still at the base of the belfry today. Thus, the woman perpetuated her name for posterity. She also sowed doubts about the people actually involved in the construction: in her message she mentioned a certain master Gerardo. It is also known that at that time the builder Diotisalvi was working in Pisa, whose participation in the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa seems more likely. However, he usually signed his works, and if he did not stay away from such a grandiose construction project, then why is his autograph missing on the bell tower?

According to legend, the Leaning Tower of Pisa wanted to follow the architect...

A funny legend explains the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Allegedly, the structure was originally perfectly straight. But the authorities did not want to pay the architect in full. He turned to his brainchild: “Come with me!” In front of the amazed public, the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted. But, as we have the opportunity to verify, it did not move. And, of course, there was no way: after all, this is just a beautiful legend, which, however, contains a deep meaning. It is possible, some historians suggest, that the architect was indeed underpaid...

Tower in Niles, USA

In the American city of Niles, in the state of Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), there is a double of the Pisan miracle - a water tower that exactly repeats the original, including in slope. True, in terms of its dimensions it is half as large. But in documentary film"Life After People", also American, tells about the destruction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which, according to the authors' forecasts, will happen only in 250 years.

The Oldehove Tower deviates more from its axis than the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The famous Italian beauty also has world analogues. In the Netherlands, for example, this is the unfinished bell tower of Oldehove, located in the historical center of Leeuwarden, the capital of the province of Friesland. If we compare the two objects, it will not be in favor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the sense that Oldehove deviates even more from its central axis.

We have two more “leaning” towers in Russia, they are also often compared to the Pisa tower. The first is Syuyumbike, in the Kazan Kremlin (it was an observation structure, the first mention dates back to 1777). It deviates noticeably to the northeast side, and the slope of its spire is 1.98 m. The second is the Nevyansk Tower, located in the center of Nevyansk, Sverdlovsk region (built in 1721-1745 by order of the Russian entrepreneur Akinfiy Demidov). It deviates from the vertical by approximately 1.85 m.

But let's return to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Our “evasive” heroine has also made its way into animated films. There is a mention of her in the popular Japanese animated series " Trip around the world Puss in Boots,” filmed back in 1969 by director Katsumata Tomohara. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is also present in such modern US cartoons as “Phineas and Ferb” (2007) and “The Adventures of Mr. Peabody and Sherman” (2014), where it is also mentioned.

How to get there, opening hours

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in Piazza dei Miracoli

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of an architectural complex located in Piazza dei Miracoli, a very large walled square whose name translates as “field of miracles.” In addition to the “leaning” tower, it includes: Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Ascension), Baptistery of San Giovanni, monumental cemetery of Campo Santo.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The city can be reached from Genoa by train in two hours. The fare is about 20 euros. A train leaves from Florence every half hour. The ticket costs approximately 8 euros and takes you to Pisa in an hour.

It takes longer to travel from Rome: by train the journey will take about three hours, the ticket will cost about 23 euros. High-speed train will arrive an hour earlier, but the ticket costs 14 euros more. If you plan to stay in the city, a night in a hotel will cost 60-100 euros.

From Pisa train station you can reach architectural complex on foot. The walk will take about half an hour. By public transport you can get to the Leaning Tower of Pisa much faster; you should get off at the Piza Rossore stop.

There are always many people who want to “support” the Leaning Tower of Pisa

It is better to take care of tickets in advance, especially in summer time. The cost of visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 18 euros. Quite expensive, but municipal authorities are trying to compensate for the huge costs of restoration work in this way.

There is a toilet for visitors in the ticket office building. You can leave things in the storage rooms next door. No more than 40 visitors can be in the tower at a time. Access to the external observation decks starts from the fifth tier. For safety, fences and nets were installed here. If you overcome the climb of 294 steps - the top Observation deck will give beautiful views city, and below, clearly visible, there will be a cathedral in the form of a cross.

The imagination of tourists is almost limitless!

There are always a lot of tourists near the Leaning Tower of Pisa, who take bright, memorable, and sometimes funny photographs against the backdrop of the famous landmark. Someone is “supporting” the building, someone is trying to climb onto it. Unique architectural structure gives enormous scope for imagination.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is open to visitors in the summer (April-September) - from 8:30 to 20:30, at winter time(October-March) – from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Night visits are available from June 14 to September 15. You can admire the picturesque views of the city during sunset; Pisa at night, lit up with lights, is also admirable.

To the question “Where is the leaning tower located?” People answer “In Pisa” without hesitation. And indeed, its name has become a household name, and the tower itself has become a legend, which is sought after from all corners of the Earth.

However, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is far from the only architectural oddity. Around the world they have tilted enough different countries. Including domestic production. Of course they don't collect this huge amount tourists, like their most famous Italian competitor, although the story of their falls is no less interesting and is shrouded in myths and fairy tales.

1. Nevyansk Tower

Nevyansk, Sverdlovsk region

The famous Nevyansk leaning tower, a symbol of the city of Nevyansk, is perhaps known not only for its inclination, but also for its mysteries. Their number per square meter of area is simply off scale. Take, for example, the fact that it is not known for certain who built it and when. It is now generally accepted that it was most likely 1725. Although some scientists argue that it could have been 1730 or 1722. However, first things first.

So, the legendary founder of the mining industry, Akinfiy Demidov, in the mid-20s ordered the construction of a stone manor house, a factory office and, next to the wooden Church of the Transfiguration that already existed on the territory of the factory, a tower bell tower. It was built from heel bricks. That is, they kneaded the clay dough with their heels, picking out the small pebbles that had been pushed in there, which were perfectly felt in this way. That's why the name.

For a special strength, egg white was used. But the main qualitative test of strength was ahead.

After the brick was made, it was thrown from a 12-meter wooden tower and only if it remained safe and sound was it used for construction.

So, to put it bluntly, it was not very easy for bricks to go down in history. By the way, according to one legend, the fate of the brick befell the architect himself, who, on Demidov’s instructions, was thrown from the balcony of his own brainchild. However, there is no name of the architect or documentary evidence of this legend. But the practice as a whole was typical for that time.

The tower itself is a square base on which three octagons are installed like a snowman: that is, each next one is smaller than the previous one. The tower is crowned with a cone with a weather vane flag, which sways at the slightest breeze, despite all its weight. This is the main confirmation that the tower is not falling, but rather inclined, and perhaps it was intended to be that way.

Simply put, if the tower were tilted any number of degrees, the weather vane would not be able to rotate. He, too, would have glanced sideways and froze forever.

At the base of the tower there was Demidov’s own office, laboratory, archive and the so-called “hearing room” - a coveted curiosity for tourists. The fact is that, thanks to the original shape of the ceiling, there is an auditory anomaly in the room: if two people stand in different corners of the room and begin to say something in a whisper, then each in his corner will hear the other’s whisper, while in the center of the room there is no nothing will be heard. Here, according to legend, Demidov brought his “business” partners, auditors and all sorts of enemies and hypocrites, and listened carefully to what they were whispering about in the corners.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the tower clock, or rather the clock mechanism of the famous English chimes. Their clock drum was programmed with 18 English melodies, and 10 bells played them methodically. By the way, the mechanism is alive and well, it still works, although it plays not the 18 melodies for which Demidov actually paid, but the “Life for the Tsar” supplemented in 1965.

Main versions of tower tilt

There are several versions about the reasons for the tilt of the tower, but none has been confirmed. Some say that the tower was originally designed and built obliquely to annoy foreigners with their Leaning Tower of Pisa, some put forward versions that during the construction of the base under the tower the ground subsided greatly and the building tilted. The builders continued its construction, trying to straighten it as much as possible, which is why a very characteristic saber-shaped slope is visible there.

There is another version related directly to Demidov’s activities. Allegedly, in his laboratory on one of the floors he minted counterfeit money, and evidence of this is the remains of particles of silver and gold found in the furnace soot on the walls. When it became known that an auditor was coming to these metas for an inspection, Demidov ordered the laboratory to be flooded and secret passages, leading underground to the tower from their house. The building could not withstand such an amount of moisture, the foundation sank and a characteristic slope appeared. In general, there is still something to think about and something for scientists to reflect on when tapping thick walls and exploring basements.

However, the last mystery of the tower really baffles: the spire of the bell tower has since been connected to grounding, that is, its lightning rod appeared on it a quarter before it was created by Benjamin Franklin. This is truly obvious and incredible!

Currently, the tower building houses the main exhibition of the Nevyansk Historical and Architectural Museum and all floors are available for visits.

Nevyansk Historical and Architectural Museum, Sverdlovsk region, Nevyansk, Demidov Square, 3, www.museum-nev.ru

2. Solikamsk Bell Tower

Solikamsk, Perm region

The belfry of two cathedrals at once - Trinity and Holy Cross Cathedrals in the center of Solikamsk also became famous due to its almost two-meter deviation. The construction of the belfry began in 1713, however, it proceeded intermittently and so slowly that it seems that the tower itself was tired of it: under the influence of groundwater, it was slightly askew.

Falling is not the only feature of the Solikamsk bell tower. Its layout itself deserves special attention. It consists of a huge cube, a base and, in fact, the tower itself, made in the shape of an octagon. In order for the base to withstand such a colossal load, its walls are unusually thick: the internal ones reach up to 3 meters.

It is also interesting that the stone base of the tower was originally planned for various city needs.

Here, in different time there was a magistrate, a court, and a city council.

Subsequently, the first floor of the building was used for storage rooms, and later, when Solikamsk trade began to decline, it was used for arrest cells. Immediately after the revolution, the bell tower was occupied, making it a temporary dormitory. But then it got even worse: at the end of the 1920s, the first two floors began to be used to hold prisoners transferred to Vishera.

The premises inside the bell tower were finally destroyed in 1931, when people simply had nothing to heat the stoves with. Stairs, ceilings, floors and all the furniture remaining at that time were thrown into the fire. The tower was finally “finished off” by the careless removal of the bells - the decorative decoration that glorified it was almost completely destroyed. Endless warehouses, printing houses, and factories, which were located in the tower at different times, methodically destroyed and destroyed the building: the foundation was partially destroyed, huge cracks appeared on the walls, and the facades themselves were practically lost. However, restoration reached here only in the 1950s, and in last years the bell tower was almost completely restored.

By the way, this is one of those rare cases when modern restoration has benefited the monument. Currently in the tower is local history museum Solikamsk region, and the bell tower itself is used as an observation deck.

Solikamsk Museum of Local Lore, Solikamsk, st. Embankment, 93, www.skm.solkam.ru

3. Syuyumbike Tower

Kazan

Another leaning tower is located in the Kazan Kremlin - the heart of the Republic of Tatarstan. It was built exclusively as a guardhouse and therefore is located at some distance from the fortress walls. It consists of seven different tiers: the three lower ones are square, then 4 octahedrons are placed on them according to the principle of reduction. The angle of deflection of the spire is almost 2 meters and is clearly visible to the naked eye.

Unfortunately, it has still not been possible to determine the exact year of its construction, as well as the name of the architect. There are many hypotheses and scientific discussions on this matter. Today, the building is officially dated back to the 17th century. This date is also indicated in all Kazan guidebooks. In general, no matter where you point it, everything is a mystery. And who built it, and when, and how long ago did it begin to bend? Even the reason for this name remains not entirely clear. All that remains is to remember the folk legends that, perhaps, every resident of Kazan knows.

Who is it named after?

Once upon a time there lived Queen Syuyuk, the ruler of the Kazan Khanate. The queen was so kind, beautiful and fair that the people nicknamed her Syuyumbike - “beloved lady.”


Queen Syuyumbike

However, Ivan the Terrible heard about the beautiful ruler, who decided to marry again, and proposed marriage to her. But Syuyumbike refused the groom, who was not to her heart. Then the formidable king himself came to the walls of Kazan with a huge army and invited Syuyumbika to think twice about his proposals, and so that she would not refuse again, he promised to destroy the city to the ground. The kind Syuyumbike decided to protect the residents from a destructive future and agreed to marry Ivan the Terrible, and as a gift asked to build a tower for her. According to legend, this tower was supposed to be built in 7 days, which was done. And after that, they threw a wedding feast. Before leaving, Syuyumbike climbed her tower to say goodbye to her beloved city, which she would never see again, and threw herself down from the top.

It remains to be said that business card The city has undergone several restorations and cosmetic repairs. The largest one was carried out even before the revolution - then the lower tier was strengthened with a special steel bandage at the level of the heel of the arch, which significantly distorted the appearance of Syuyumbike, but implied additional strengthening and supposedly prevented greater rooting. After so many years, the bandage has, of course, become unusable, but no one has yet decided to remove it.

Currently, the tower is used as a minaret for reciting the azan during funeral prayers in honor of the victims of 1552. In this regard, its spire in 1993 was crowned with a gilded crescent.

State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve Kazan Kremlin, Kazan, www.kazan-kremlin.ru

 

It might be useful to read: