Written by Maci
Modified & Updated: 17 May 2024
Reviewed by Sherman Smith
True to its rich history, the country of Italy boasts many historical sites and structures. Among its famous landmarks, the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands out for its peculiar tilt. In a feat that amazes tourists (and probably irks the occasional building manager), the Leaning Tower has made a name for itself as Italy’s defining monument.
However, there is more to this structure that most people do not realize. Find out about everything you need to know about its unique architecture with these Leaning Tower of Pisa facts.
- Originally, the complete height of the tower was 60 meters high.
- The outside diameter of the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s base is measured 15.484 meters.
- The width of the walls by the base of the tower is measured to be 2.4384 meters.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 251 steps from the bottom to the top of the tower.
- The weight of the tower is approximately 14,500 tonnes.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa’s name comes from a Greek word which translates to ‘Marshy land”.
- The Cathedral and the Baptistery are sinking.
- The foundation of the tower is made up of earth that came from the Hill of calvary in Jerusalem.
- Galileo was baptized in the baptistery of the tower during 1565.
- The tower’s construction began in 1173.
- The architecture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa follows the Romanesque style from medieval times.
- The first phase of the tower’s construction is attributed to Bonanno Pisano.
- The second phase was attributed to Tommaso Pisano who finished the construction.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of four major monuments in Italy.
- The tower is located next to the Cathedral of Pisa in Piazza Dei Miracoli.
- The construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was completed in 1399.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only building in Pisa that is leaning.
- The tower represents the last element in the complement of the ceremonial complex of monuments in that Square of Miracles.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in Pisa, Italy.
- The tower is famous worldwide for being tilted by four degrees.
Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts Infographics
Winter is said to be the best time to go see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
This is mainly due to the additional Christmas decor and lights surrounding the nearby area. Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa during this time will also have fewer tourists coming in for sightseeing.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has its own lego set.
In 2013, the LEGO company released a new building set to its LEGO architecture line, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Instructions on how to build the tower are also available on the company’s official website.
The Lego set also mimics the famous tilt the tower has using only grey lego pieces. What better way to understand the Leaning Tower than building it yourself? The LEGO Architecture line has since been discontinued, but you can still get your hands on one here.
A ticket is required to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Tourists planning on visiting the tower are commonly advised to buy their tickets to the attraction before their arrival. This is due to the limited number of people allowed to go inside the tower each day.
Tickets can be booked online in advance with a selected time slot for the day.
The tower began leaning during its construction in the 12th century.
The tower’s titular leaning is caused by the foundation it was built on. The soft ground beneath the construction could not support the tower’s full weight which resulted in the tower tilting. From its construction to this day, the tower continues to gradually incline.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has a dress code for visitors.
Before visitors may enter the Leaning Tower of Pisa, they are required to wear proper attire while inside. The dress code prohibits bare shoulders, short shorts, and short skirts.
To be permitted to go inside, shoulders must be covered by a scarf or jacket before entering.
It takes around 30 minutes to climb the tower.
Many have stated that climbing the tower is not difficult and can be accomplished under 30 minutes. However, for those who have vertigo and tend to become dizzy in high places, this may be a bit more difficult.
Experts believe that the Tower of Pisa will take a while before it eventually falls.
As of 2011, experts have stated that the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa will continue to hold for another 200 years. Today, the tower continues to lean southwards at almost 4°.
Engineers, on the other hand, have stated that even with a fairly large earthquake, the tower will continue to hold its position as it is now.
The Leaning Tower has gone through several renovations.
Each year, engineers observe and measure the current status of the Leaning Tower of Pisa to monitor the integrity of the building. In 2018, it was discovered that the tower had been correcting itself for more than a decade already.
The statistics gathered showed that the tower had reduced its tilt by 4 centimeters. With careful maintenance of the tower and continued observations, the tower is believed to continue standing for hundreds of years more.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa's opening hours differ every season.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is open all year round for visitors. However, its operating hours depends on the season.
During the summer and spring, the attraction is generally open longer, from 9 am to 8 pm. Winter seasons have shorter visiting hours and with similar operating hours as other nearby attractions.
It costs around 18 Euros to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The attraction charges visitors around 18 Euros (or approximately $24) each for tickets. However, if not bought online or pre-ordered, the ticket could cost a bit more to buy on-site when available.
Children under the age of 8 are not allowed inside the tower.
Rules and regulations around the tower are strictly followed and implemented. Children aged 8-10 require adult supervision when climbing the tower.
The rule is implemented to avoid any incidents that may cause harm to small children and the integrity of the tower.
Access to the tower is limited to groups of 45 people at a time.
This is to ensure the safety of the group and to avoid dangerous weight distribution while climbing to the top. The management strictly implements this rule and hence why groups only have 30 minutes to enjoy their stay.
The official website for the Leaning Tower of Pisa is considered to be awful.
The website of the Leaning Tower of Pisa often experiences bugs and failed transactions for online ticket bookings. Instead of using the official website, it is often recommended that visitors book their tickets through reliable third-party agents.
Any items cannot be carried into the tower while climbing up.
For visitors who have luggage or any other items with them, a luggage desk is deignated near the ticket office. All belongings have to be surrendered to the luggage counter before climbing up the tower.
The only items allowed to be brought up with visitors are bottled waters, small cameras, and mobile phones.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a 20-minute walk away from the nearest train station.
For travelers on a budget, most prefer to get to the Leaning Tower of Pisa on foot instead of allocating extra funds for a bus or cab. The walk towards the tower will also allow you to pass through local alleys in Florence with several attractions.
Going around by foot is also one of the most common ways to enjoy the scenery and attractions of the city.
Pickpockets are known to roam around the area of the tower.
Thieves are known to lurk around the surrounding area of the attractions in Pisa. Those visiting the area are often advised to keep valuable belongings close to them at all times to avoid theft.
The purpose of the tower was to show off.
Before the construction of the tower, the city of Pisa began to invest their wealth onto the construction of grand buildings. After stealing money from Palermo in 1063, the government decided to use the money to build several monuments to flaunt their stolen wealth.
The bells in the tower have not rung for centuries.
The bells of the Leaning Tower of Pisa have not been rung since the 20th century. This is due to the fear that by doing so, the vibrations may cause the tower to tilt even further.
The largest bell on the tower weighs around 8,000 pounds.
American soldiers once intended to destroy the tower during WW2.
During the second world war, American soldiers were told to destroy any buildings that may be used by Italy as a lookout point or nest for snipers. However, upon arriving in Pisa, the American soldiers were too impressed by the beauty of the tower to destroy it.
Benito Mussolini was ashamed of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini considered the construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa a mistake and was an embarrassment to the reputation of the country. At one point during his reign in the 20th century, he attempted to drill holes in the nearby surrounding area of the tower to sabotage the structure of the tower.
However, this led to the creation of an even heavier base which led his plan to backfire
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