Leaning tower

Leaning tower
Originally uploaded by cienne45.

Pisa, Italy - The Leaning tower

Construction of the bell tower, the symbol of Pisa throughout the world, was begun in 1173, possibbly under the supervision of Bonanno, and completed two centuries later. It consists of the superposition, on a cylindrical base with blind arcading, of a series of six highly elegant and light loggettas. Interesting sculpture decorates the capitals, the lunette over the door and some of the intercolumnar spaces. The tower stands 60 meters tall and is inclined 5 meters off perpendicular. Its characteristic inclination is not a recent phenomenon, having begun almost as soon as work on the project go underway ) probably due to land slippage, a common phenomenon in Pisan territory). Recent efforts to stabilize the situation seem to have shown promising results.