The tower is actually only a bell tower of a cathedral but has always been considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It leans and almost seems to be on the verge of toppling over. But somehow the perpendicularly challenged tower has survived for centuries. Innumerable efforts to correct its tilt have proved fruitless. So what gives? It is the shifting subsoil foundation that cannot bear such heavy marble. Various solutions were tried out once the architect took notice of the lean in 1185. It took centuries to build thereafter and dropped out public imagination till a certain home grown genius -Galileo Galilee dropped some wooden balls leaning side to prove to the world that gravity works the same irrespective of size. THE LOCATION
The bell tower is unique both in its intrinsic artistic value as well as its location on what is commonly known as Piazza De Miracoli. Unlike other bell towers, it occupies a side that is disproportionately to one side. It assumes an inimitable significance if you see it in the context of its surroundings. In medieval times, if you were traveling down the junction between the Piazza and the via Santa Marie, the tower would loom large. Moreover, strangely there is an architectural continuity between the ground floor of the tower and Cathedral. Apparently the tower was the focal point of the town- visible from all sides- even from river. It was the connection between the city and the outside world- a point of reference as well as a symbol of pride of Pisa.MEASUREMENT
The tower raises to 258.6 mts from the foundation and 55 mts from the ground. The subsoil had to bear his enormous weight of around 14.453, tons and the center of gravity is about 22.6 high. The exterior foundation itself spans stands about 19.5 mts with a central aperture of 4.5mts. The Pisan towers leans to about 55 j -that is about 10%.THE ARCHITECT
The architect of the wonder of this world has never been fully pinpointed. The person's education and culture as well as Pisan tradition points to Bonnaio Pisano. Recent repudiation has thrown up Diotiaslve as the possible architect. But the Baptistry that he had planned is not very similar to that of the tower. It was presumably completed over a long period of time with instructions been given at different times by various architects including De Simione.THE BUILDING
The tower is actually a building attempt followed by attempts to it's minimize risk of toppling over. It has taken the shape of cylindrical body of machinery fortified with arcades and arches and columns that rest on the base. These are topped by a belfry. The central structure is hollow and has a spiral stairway of 239 steps ending in the sixth arcade. Here, the internal well ends and opens into excess for the belfry above and to the lower intermediate areas. Decorations populate the arches and there is the 14th century statue of Madonna and the Child. Animals and imaginary beasts, ships etc are edged in the friezes. The cylindrical belfry has decorations of closed and pierced lunelles.You can reach a belfry through a narrow spiral stair that extends up to the tumid.THE PROBLEM OF LEANING
Experts have been divided whether the problem was of static or was a result of inevitable sinking of the ground or even an effect consciously designed by the architects. Tests during the 20th century have conclusively proved that the inclination began after the construction. The study of the subsoil has revealed an inter-layered clayish material washed by subterranean waters. The causes of the leaning are not far to see.