Aug 10, 2023, 02:56 PM IST

850th Anniversary of Leaning Tower of Pisa! 7 Facts You Must Know

The Leaning Tower of Pisa needs no introduction. It is one of the world's most remarkable and renowned monuments. Its Italian name is Torre Pendente di Pisa. On its 850th anniversary, here are 8 facts you should know.

This Italian tower is one of a kind and made its way into the list of Wonders of the World for its exceptional Romanesque architecture, its sheer size and its miraculous lean.

In 1987, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was declared a World Heritage Site and since then the entire complex belongs to UNESCO.

Many wonder why the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans. It is because of the marshy lands, which means the terrain of the area is mainly made of clay. The tall tower is made with foundations only three metres deep on marshy lands.

The popular 186-foot-tall tourist destination took almost two centuries to build. The architects Bonanno Pisano, Gherardo di Gherardo, Giovanni Pisano, and Giovanni di Simone halted the construction for almost a century. It took 199 years to complete the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

One fun fact about the Leaning Tower is that it changed its direction. During construction on the third story, the centre of gravity leaned the tower towards the north. However, after the construction of the fourth, fifth, and sixth stories, it began tilting towards the south and has remained the same ever since.

Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini is believed to have worsened the situation of the monument. In 1934, he tried to mend the tower as he was ashamed of it. He tried fixing it by reallocating resources to straighten the tower, but he failed brutally.

You would be surprised to know that it is not the only leaning tower in Pisa. As mentioned earlier, the city of Pisa stands on marshy lands. The bell towers of the Church of San Nicola and St. Michele dei Scalzi aren't exactly straight either.