While the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a truly global tourist phenomenon known to one and all, there are various queer oddities about the structure which even some of the locals themselves are not really aware of! Let us delve into some of them here which will help you appreciate your tour Toscana even more!
It took nearly 200 years to build!
Yes, the structure that you look at today on your Tuscany tour as the Leaning Tower of Pisa took as many as 200 years to build, with groundbreaking occurring in 1173 while the tower itself was completed in 1372, i.e. 199 years!
It started leaning just 5 years into construction!
In spite of the lengthy construction time span, the Leaning Tower of Pisa actually started leaning merely 5 years into its construction! This leaning is largely attributed to the weak and unstable subsoil which is characteristic of this region.
Galileo dropped two cannon balls from the tower!
Somewhat mythical in nature, without definite confirmation of authenticity, it is believed that Galileo dropped two cannon balls of varying masses from atop the tower in order to prove that speed of descent is in fact independent of mass.
The actual architect of the Leaning Tower of Pisa remains a mystery! It is not known for sure as to who was the real architect of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Over the course of your Toscana tour you will realize that there are various attributions made for the tower’s primary architect, especially to Bonanno Pisano as well as to Guglielmo, but none of these attributions can be confirmed with affirmation.
The current lean is somewhat on purpose!
Over the years, various restoration efforts have meant that the Leaning Tower of Pisa remains fairly stable, without any additional leaning likely, for centuries. However, the current angle of 3.99 degrees at which the tower leans is somewhat on purpose as that is exactly what makes the structure such an attraction for Tuscany travel visitors in the first place! The idea of the Italian administration has essentially been to retain the fact that the tower leans, while preventing further leaning which may eventually lead to the tower toppling off completely.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in fact a bell tower!
Not many on their holiday Tuscany would know that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is in fact a bell tower or campanile of the cathedral complex of Pisa.
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