Leaning Tower of Pisa Quick Facts

Though not one of the original Seven Wonders, the Leaning Tower’s impossible tilt, size, and Romanesque style earned it honorary status in many modern “wonders” lists—standing as a Medieval marvel that defied architectural norms.

Pisa means “marshy land”—and true to its name, the tower was built on soft clay soil with shallow foundations. This poor planning is exactly what led to its famous tilt after only the second floor was completed.

Despite its fame, the Leaning Tower is just one part of a grand religious complex. It serves as the bell tower for Pisa Cathedral, alongside the Baptistery and Camposanto, forming the iconic Piazza dei Miracoli.

It’s not just the tower—other buildings in the square are also sinking. Even the cemetery, laid with sacred soil from Jerusalem, hasn’t escaped the effects of Pisa’s unstable ground.

Between engineering confusion and wars involving the Republic of Pisa, the tower’s construction stretched from 1173 to 1372. Builders halted progress several times, unsure how to proceed as the tilt worsened.

During construction, the tower’s center of gravity shifted. After leaning north during the third floor, later floors pulled it back south—its current tilt. It’s not just leaning; it once leaned twice.

Engineer John Burland, who helped save the tower, once admitted soil mechanics was his weakest subject. Despite that, his methods—like soil extraction—successfully stabilized the tower by 2001, making it safe for centuries.

In 1934, Mussolini, ashamed of the tilt, ordered engineers to drill holes in the base and inject concrete to straighten it. Ironically, the effort only increased the tilt, making it worse than before.

During World War II, German soldiers used the Leaning Tower as a lookout. When Allied troops discovered this, they were so struck by its beauty that they spared it from destruction—an act that may have saved the tower forever.

The fix isn’t forever. If left untouched, the Leaning Tower may begin tilting again by the 23rd century. For now, it’s safe—but future generations may need another rescue mission.

Pisa’s ground is so soft, other towers lean too! The bell towers of San Nicola and St. Michele dei Scalzi both show visible tilts—making Pisa the unofficial capital of unintentional architecture.

The tower houses seven bells, each tuned to a musical note. But swinging them the old-fashioned way is banned—experts fear vibrations could worsen the tilt. Today, they ring electronically for safety.