Falling towers. Travels from A to Z. Bell tower of the Old Church in Delft

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has become a household phrase meaning unstable or falling structures

How could it happen that a seemingly typical bell tower at the temple of the most 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). Construction 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 bell (C sharp), which was melted down in 1818 by the master Gualandi da Prato.

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 its completion, 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 survived several major earthquakes, but it survived and continues to delight not only travelers, but also local residents with its original and unique appearance.

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 upper observation deck will give you 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.

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, 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. The tall tower is called Asinelli, the 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, and 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

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

Traveling around Italy, many tourists rush to get to the city Pisa to see with your own eyes one of the Italian wonders - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Leaning Tower of Pisa- This is the so-called leaning tower.

What is a "leaning tower"?

What does the definition mean? falling tower»? Falling tower- this is a structure whose axis is not parallel to the vertical, but is deviated from it at a certain angle. If we delve deeper into the terminology, there is a division: falling tower And leaning tower. The angle of inclination of the falling tower gradually increases, which can lead to the destruction of the structure. And the angle of the inclined tower remains constant, while the structure itself is in a stable equilibrium state. Deviation of the building axis from the vertical can occur for various reasons: earthquakes, floods, strong wind loads, and so on, but most often the deviation from the vertical is the result of miscalculations by architects and builders. If a building is built on unsuitable soil for construction, then after some time the building may tilt due to uneven settlement. It is amazing that the tilt of a building, caused by an engineering error, can make the building a landmark known throughout the world.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy has gained worldwide fame due to its leaning, but there are many other leaning and leaning towers built around the world. In the same Italy, there are several more leaning towers; also leaning and leaning towers can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and many other countries.









Leaning and leaning towers in Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa


Leaning Tower of Pisa- This is the eight-story bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral. The height of the building is approximately 56.7 meters, and the angle of inclination is 3° 54". The bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral was built intermittently for almost two centuries from 1173 to 1360. The tilt of the tower appeared after the construction of the third floor. The reason for the tilt of the building is the small foundation and unsuitable to compensate for the tilt, the upper floors were built with higher corridor ceilings on the side towards which the tower leaned, which led to curvature relative to the axis of symmetry. The last floor was built with an even greater bend, but this approach did not produce results, and the tower was built. it turned out to be inclined. Until the twentieth century, the Leaning Tower of Pisa gradually “fell”, deviating by about one millimeter from the vertical per year. And only at the beginning of the 21st century was it possible to stop the “fall” of the tower and even reduce the angle of inclination from 5° 30 "to 3°. 54" by excavating under the foundation.

Sometimes Italians make fun of tourists, telling how the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa appeared:

“The architect Bonnano Pisano, at the request of the Catholic priests, built an elegant and completely straight bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral. The bell tower amazed with its grandeur and beauty. But the stingy Catholic priests refused to pay the architect for the work. Then Pisano approached the tower and said: “Follow me!” The bell tower tried to follow its creator and bent."

These days the name " Leaning Tower of Pisa“has become a household word: now this is the name given to unstable vertical structures or structures that have noticeably deviated from the vertical.


Two Italian leaning towers are located in the city center Bologna. Towers Asinelli (Asinelli) And Garisenda (Garisenda), named after the families of the first owners, were built in the 12th century. In medieval Bologna, rich families competed with each other, trying to build the most high tower. First, the Asinelli Tower appeared in the city center, which after construction tilted to the side due to uneven settlement of the soil under the foundation. Then came the Garisenda Tower, which was deliberately built slanted, mocking the neighboring tower. After completion of construction, the Garisenda was shortened several times to avoid collapse due to its critical slope. The height of the Asinelli tower is approximately 97.2 meters, and the angle of inclination is 1° 18". Asinelli is the tallest ancient leaning tower in the world. Garisenda is half the height of its neighbor (about 48 meters), but it tilts more to the side: towards our days, the deviation from the vertical at the top point of the tower is about three meters. But at the beginning of the 14th century. Alighieri Dante in his poem " The Divine Comedy” described only a slight deviation:

"Like Garisenda, if you stand under the overhang,
The summit seems to be falling little by little
Towards a cloud in the heights of heaven..."

Leaning and leaning towers in Germany


Germany also has leaning and leaning towers, and one of them even made it into the Guinness Book of Records. Bell tower of the church in the village of Zuurhusen (Suurhusen) deviated from the vertical at an angle of 5° 12", respectively, this is the most inclined ancient leaning tower in the world. The church building in Zuurhusen was built in the 13th century, and the bell tower was added later - in the 15th century. After construction, the bell tower began to tilt to the side due to due to the uneven settlement of the building, it was possible to stop the “fall” only at the end of the twentieth century.

Bell tower of the Upper Church in Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäuser


Upper Church V Bad Frankenhausen-Kyffhäuser was built in the 14th century. Since then, the church tower has been continuously leaning toward the ground. The angle of inclination of the tower is already greater than the inclination of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, but the “fall” still cannot be stopped.

Leaning and leaning towers in the Netherlands

Oldehowe Tower


Oldehowe Tower- an unfinished bell tower in the center of a Dutch city Leeuwarden. Construction of the building began in the 16th century. Locals wanted to add a bell tower to their church, which would surpass in height the bell tower of St. Martin's Church in neighboring city Groningen. The tower began to tilt already at the initial stage of construction. Noticing this, the builders tried to compensate for the tilt by completing the upper level, which is why the tower became not only inclined, but also crooked. As a result, the construction of the bell tower, which reached a height of about forty meters, had to be stopped, and the church was completely dismantled due to the danger of collapse.

Bell tower of the Old Church in Delft


Oude Kerk(translated from Dutch - Old Church) — gothic church in a Dutch city Delft. The church was built in the 13th century, and in the 14th century a bell tower was added to it. Over time, the 75-meter bell tower deviated from the vertical by almost 2 meters (angle of inclination - 1° 30").

Leaning and leaning towers in Russia

Tower Syuyumbike


One of the Russian leaning towers is located in the third capital of Russia -. Tower Syuyumbike- inclined watchtower of the Kazan Kremlin. The height of the building is approximately 58 meters, and the deviation of the top of the spire from the vertical is 1.98 meters. The date of construction of the tower still remains a mystery. There are many legends about this Kazan skyscraper, but most of them are just fiction. For example, according to one legend, the tower was built by order of Ivan the Terrible in seven days - one tier per day. I wish I could bend over after such high-speed construction! Nowadays, the inclined Syuyumbike tower is a recognized architectural symbol of Kazan and is widely known far beyond the borders of Tatarstan.

Nevyansk Tower


Nevyansk Tower- leaning tower located in the center Ural city Nevyansk. The tower was built at the beginning of the 18th century by order of the famous industrialist Akinfiy Demidov. The height of the building is 57.5 meters, and the deviation of the tower from the vertical at the top point is approximately 1.85 meters. The angle of inclination of the building from the lower to the upper tier decreases, so it can be assumed that during construction the workers tried to compensate for the mistake made at the stage of laying the foundation and during the construction of the lower level of the tower walls. Thus, the upper tiers were built with a tilt in the opposite direction, which is why the tower acquired a saber-shaped bend. However, there is also an opinion that the building was deliberately built inclined so that Nevyansk could have its own Leaning Tower of Pisa. Also, a legend is sometimes told that the tilt of the tower appeared after Demidov, fearing an inspection by an auditor, ordered the basement of the building in which he allegedly minted counterfeit coins to be flooded. The legend about the flooded basement is just one of many legends about the tower in Nevyansk. Mysticism and mysteries surround this sloping Ural high-rise building. For example, after the construction of the tower, grounding was connected to its spire, that is, the building was equipped with a lightning rod a quarter of a century before it was invented by Benjamin Franklin. Visitors to the tower are also amazed by the so-called “ acoustic room”, in which, standing in one corner, you can clearly hear what is being said in a whisper in the opposite corner. It is also worth mentioning the unique English chiming clock mounted on the tower. The Nevyansk Tower is one of the most mysterious leaning towers in the world, although it is not the tallest or most inclined.

More falling towers can be found in Solikamsk, Kungur and some other Russian cities.

Leaning and Leaning Towers in China

Tiger Hill Pagoda


Tiger Hill Pagoda- an inclined tower in China, it is often called that way: “ Leaning Tower of China" The tower was built in the 10th century, and in the 17th century the tower was lengthened by adding an extension on top. As a result, the height of the tower is approximately 47 meters, while the deviation from the vertical is 2.32 meters, that is, the angle of inclination of the tower is almost 3 degrees. The “fall” of the tower was stopped in the middle of the twentieth century, and now the tower is in a stable equilibrium position.

Leaning and leaning towers in the UAE

Capital Gate


More often ancient towers became falling and inclined due to miscalculations of architects and builders, but today engineers deliberately build inclined buildings. Capital Gate, better known as Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, is a modern tilting skyscraper in the capital of the United United Arab Emirates. The height of the building is 160 meters, and the angle of inclination is 18 degrees. The skyscraper is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the building with the greatest angle of inclination in the world.

Leaning and leaning towers in the UK

Big Ben


Surprisingly, one of the most recognizable symbols of Great Britain is Big Ben (Big Ben) is also a leaning tower. The inclination of the 96-meter Big Ben is only 0° 15", and the deviation from the vertical is 0.44 meters. Visually, the inclination is not even noticeable. It is only a stretch to call Big Ben a leaning tower, but it is also impossible to say that the tower is not inclined at all .

The most falling towers

So, let's summarize:

The most famous leaning tower in the world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy).

The tallest ancient leaning tower in the world is the Asinelli Tower in Bologna (Italy).
The height of the tower is approximately 97.2 meters.

The most inclined ancient leaning tower in the world is the bell tower of the church in the village of Zuurhusen (Germany).
The tilt angle of the tower is 5° 12".

One of the most mysterious leaning towers in the world is the Nevyansk Tower (Russia).

The most inclined modern building in the world is the Capital Gate skyscraper in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
The tilt angle of the building is 18 degrees.

And finally, you don’t have to go to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, because you can find such a unique landmark somewhere closer.

Leaning towers on the world map

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January 7, 1990 famous of the year Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to tourists because it had become unsafe. Soon, large-scale multi-year work began to stabilize this object and partially level it, which was completed only in 2010. But in the world there is great amount others leaning towers who are only waiting for such saving actions in relation to themselves.




The most famous leaning tower in the world. This bell tower of the local cathedral took almost two hundred years to build, from 1173 to 1360. The tilt of this structure appeared already during the construction process, and even medieval architects tried to fight it. However, only the engineers of our time managed to stop the fall. During work in the 1990s, they stabilized the tower, and in the first decade of the 21st century, they reduced the angle of inclination from 5 degrees 30 minutes to 3 degrees 54 minutes.



The Urals in the 18th century was the patrimony of the Demidov family, who built their own industrial empire in this region and were its de facto rulers. For one of the leaders of this family, Akinfiy Nikitich, a tower was built in the city of Nevyansk. This building housed the owner’s office, his laboratory, and on the upper two floors - a chiming clock. The deviation of the Nevyansk Tower from the vertical is 3 degrees 16 minutes or 1.85 meters.



In medieval Bologna, wealthy families competed among themselves to see who could build the tallest tower. In total, 180 similar objects were erected in this city during the 12th-13th centuries, of which the two neighboring ones, which belonged to the Asinelli and Garisenda families, stand out especially. The fact is that both of these towers (the large one is 97.2 meters high and the small one is 48 meters high) are inclined in relation to the ground and to each other. Moreover, according to historical and engineering research, the first began to deviate from the vertical axis for natural reasons, and the second was built this way deliberately as a mockery of the neighboring object.



Scientists cannot unambiguously decide when exactly this watchtower of the Kazan Kremlin was built - in the 17th-18th centuries or in the 16th, during the time of the Kazan Khanate. But the most famous among other towers of the Syuyumbike citadel is its deviation from the vertical, amounting to this moment 1.98 meters.



Engineering mistakes during the construction of towers were characteristic not only of medieval European engineers, but also of their colleagues from China. As proof of this, we can cite the Tiger Hill Pagoda, built in the 10th century. Over more than a millennium, its deviation from the axis was 2.32 meters.



The Oldehove Tower in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden isn't just leaning, it's twisted. The engineers and architects who worked on this bell tower of the Church of St. Vitus, noticing the resulting tilt during its construction, tried in every possible way to stop it, shifting the center of gravity of the object. Realizing that their plan was not working, they stopped the construction of the tower, which by that time had reached a height of 40 meters. This conservation of construction happened in 1533.



The main attraction of the Malaysian city of Teluk Intan is a leaning tower 25.5 meters high. Initially it was created as a water pump and sentry. However, having deviated from the vertical axis, the tower turned into a popular tourist attraction.



The Round Towers are a national architectural treasure of Ireland. There are about 120 such sites throughout the island. But the most interesting of them is located in Kilmacdoo Monastery in County Galway. This 34.5-meter tower deviates from the vertical axis by more than a meter. It is interesting that the monastery itself has been abandoned for many centuries, and the buildings have been destroyed. And only the tower, built in the 13th century with engineering mistakes, still stands as if it were brand new.



Construction of this tower in a small Polish town began in the 13th century and ended in 1413. Judging by its architecture, it is clear that already during construction it began to deviate to the side, and therefore the builders were forced to change the shape of the tower as they continued working, bending it. This only partially helped. Now the axis of the object is shifted by 2.14 meters with its height of 34 meters.



If in the Middle Ages towers became inclined due to engineering miscalculations of their creators, in our time architects deliberately build such objects. The largest of them is the Capital Gate skyscraper, better known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi. Opened in 2011, the 160-meter building immediately entered the Guinness Book of Records as the structure with the largest inclination angle in the world. It is equal to 18 degrees.

The reliability of the foundation of any building always depends on the stability of the soil. This parameter, which exceeds normal values, can lead to tilting of the structure and further destruction. Even ancient architects knew about this fact. Thanks to this property of the soil, leaning towers once appeared, having such an unusual design due to errors in their design. The most famous of these buildings is the tower located in Pisa, Italy. But the list does not end there - there are many buildings in the world that deviate from the axis of symmetry.

Such buildings are available in the UK, Italy, Germany, China, the Netherlands and Russia. Today you can learn about the history of their creation and see photographs. So let's get started.

This part of the Cathedral of St. Mary was built in the ancient Italian city of Pisa. Work on its creation began in 1173 and was completed almost two centuries later. The authorship of the most famous leaning tower in the world belongs to the architect Bonnano Pisano. It is entirely built of white marble, its height is 56 meters, the angle of inclination reaches 4.8 degrees.

Nevertheless, for many centuries this bell tower has been a symbol of Pisa. And lovers of various kinds of legends composed a new one in her honor: the architect Pisano built an elegant and completely straight tower, which captivated with its royalty and whiteness. But after the work was completed, the stingy Catholic priests did not want to pay for the master’s efforts. After this, Pisano turned to the tower and said: “Follow me!” To the amazement of eyewitnesses, the bell tower took a step and tilted.

Leaning Tower of Syuyumbike

It is the most famous building of the Kazan Kremlin. To admire the oriental beauty, a large number of tourists from all over the world come to the capital of Tatarstan every year. Its spire deviates from the vertical by 1.98 meters. Externally, it is a cone-shaped building consisting of seven tiers. Red brick was used for its construction, and the structure is crowned with a green spire, decorated with a gilded crescent - a symbol of the Muslim faith.

There are different versions of the creation of this tower. Two of them are associated with the name of the ruler of the Kazan Khanate Syuyumbike. According to the first legend, the queen ordered its construction after the death of her beloved husband Safa-Gerei.

Another story intertwines the name of the beauty and the Russian autocrat Ivan the Terrible, who in 1552, after the capture of Kazan, wished to marry the proud ruler. It took seven days to build this symbol of power and love. But the cruel king failed to win Syuyumbike’s heart - she jumped down from the last tier of the tower and died.

Modern researchers refute these legends and say that the leaning tower was created at the beginning of the 18th century under more prosaic circumstances not related to the name of the Tatar queen. Historical documents have been preserved confirming the marriage of Syuyumbike with Khan Shah-Ali.

Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi

Almost 60 years ago, the capital of the United Arab Emirates could not boast of any attractions. But after rich oil deposits were discovered here in 1958, the country began to develop rapidly. Now Abu Dhabi is thriving and can afford the construction of the most unusual complexes.

In 2011, the falling towers found an Arab sister: the most unusual high-rise building was commissioned in the capital of the UAE, which received the name Capital Gate, which translates from in English means "gate of the capital". It was immediately included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most tilted building on the planet. Its roll angle is five times higher than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and amounts to 18 degrees. This architectural miracle of our time was built in four years by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.

The Leaning Tower in Abu Dhabi is 160 meters high and consists of 33 floors, most of which are occupied by a five-star hotel and office space. The amount spent on its construction is impressive: over 2 billion dollars.

Tiger Hill Pagoda, China

The omnipresent Celestial Empire is also included in the list of countries that have their own leaning towers. In keeping with the local flavor, the most famous leaning building is the Tiger Hill Pagoda, or Huciu. It is located in the city of Suzhou, in Jiangsu province. The history of its creation goes back over a thousand years, and it is two centuries older than the more famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The height of the seven-story structure, weighing almost 7 thousand tons, is 47 meters.

During its existence, it survived several fires, and in 1644 Tiger Hill began to gradually acquire its special quality: for the fifth centuries, the Chinese pagoda has been rushing down, and by the beginning of the 21st century its slope exceeded 2 meters.

Italian Asinelli and Garisenta

Cities with one leaning tower invariably attract the attention of researchers and tourists. What then can we say about Bologna, where there are two of them?

Asinelli and Garisenda, or simply "twins", were built in the 12th century. The height of the first reaches almost 100 meters, and the second is half as low, but it has a stronger slope from the vertical. For the city of that time, these buildings were as important as the towers of the World War II shopping center in NYC. The main purposes for which medieval skyscrapers were built were defensive and offensive.

Both main attractions of Bologna are located in the very center of the city, and almost all the main streets lead to them. Today Asinelli is one of the best observation platforms, from the roof of which the quarters of the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region are clearly visible.

Nevyansk Tower

In addition to the sentinel Syuyumbike, another world-famous tilted structure is located in Russia. Where is the leaning tower? A short distance from Nizhny Tagil, near the Neiva River, the city of Nevyansk modestly stands. The glorious history of the Demidov family began with him, and they also became the customers for the construction of the tilted tower. The height of the Russian sister Torre pendente di Pisa is 57.5 meters. It is noteworthy that the chimes located on the tower play about 20 melodies and have been operating without repair for almost 300 years. They were assembled by English watchmaker Richard Phelps.

The Demidovs were the richest family in Russia, and where there is big money, there are always many different myths.

Such legends also include the history of the inclination of the Nevyansk Tower. There was a persistent rumor about Ural industrialists that they were engaged in the manufacture of counterfeit coins. When auditors arrived in the city one day, the owner, allegedly covering his tracks, flooded the money production machines in the basements, which caused the building to tilt. But historians have refuted this fiction: the slope was originally conceived by the architect.

Tower in Bad Frankenhausen, Germany

The 25-meter high Gothic Upper Church, built in 1382, is located on the top of a hill and is constantly exposed to the destructive effects of a powerful air flow. According to researchers, strong winds are the main reason why the Bad Frankenhausen tower gets 6 centimeters closer to the ground every year. Those under the foundation also contribute to the final fall. mineral water. Engineers have calculated that the next ten years could cause irreparable damage to it.

 

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