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Leaning Tower of Pisa height explained
Height of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in numbers
Meters: 58.36 meters
Arms: 100 braccia pisane or Pisan arms
Feet: 191.47 feet or 191 feet and 6 inches;
Yards: 63.8 yards
High side of the tower from the ground: 56.67 m or 185.92 ft
Low side of the tower from the ground: 55.86 m or 183.26 ft
Height of every floor (2nd to 8th): 10 arms or 5.84 m
Same tower, different heights—It’s a lean thing
Thanks to its famous tilt, the Leaning Tower of Pisa plays favorites—one side stands nearly a meter taller than the other, turning a simple bell tower into one of the world’s most eye-catching optical illusions.
Actual height vs apparent height
The technical breakdown
- Actual height refers to the physical length from the base to the top along the tower’s curved surface. This remains consistent regardless of the tilt.
- Apparent height is what you perceive when looking at the tower from the ground—usually the vertical height from the base to the top as seen from one side.
Because of the tilt
- The high side (north) appears taller: 56.67 m
- The low side (south) looks shorter: 55.86 m
- The full length measured along the lean (not vertically): 58.36 m
This last figure reflects the actual length of the tower from base to top, following its diagonal lean—like measuring along a slide rather than straight up.
Subtle curve
As the tower began tilting during construction, engineers of the time made a crucial adjustment. Starting from the third tier, they began building the upper levels at a slight angle in the opposite direction, subtly correcting the imbalance. This resulted in a banana-like curvature, where the structure doesn't lean in a perfect straight line but bends gently back toward vertical.
A tale of two heights
This means Pisa’s height can’t be captured in a single, definitive number. It requires multiple measurements—and context. Unlike typical towers, Pisa’s form tells a story: one of unstable soil, ongoing corrections, and the ingenuity it took to preserve it. The tower doesn’t just stand as a measurement in meters—it stands as a monument to trial, error, and survival across centuries.
How 58 meters feels under your feet
You don’t just see the height—you feel it. With each step, the ground grows distant, the wind sharper, the silence deeper. At the top, it’s not just the view you take with you—it’s the feeling.
Has the height of the tower changed over time?
Yes, slightly—but not in the way you’d expect.
As the tilt increased through the centuries, so did structural stress. In the late 20th century, the lean reached a dangerous angle of 5.5 degrees, which risked collapse. Restoration work from 1990 to 2001 managed to reduce the tilt to 4 degrees and stabilize the foundation.
These efforts involved removing soil from underneath, anchoring the base, and carefully adjusting the structure. As a result, while the tower’s physical height didn’t change dramatically, its measured tilt and therefore apparent height slightly improved.
Leaning Tower's height compared
Comparison
Leaning Tower
Eiffel Tower
Pisa Cathedral
Burj Khalifa
Height
56 meters
330 meters
77 meters
828 meters
Year construction began
1173
1887
1063
2004
Year construction completed
1372
1889
1092
2010
Material
Marble and stone
Iron lattice
Marble and stone
Steel and reinforced concrete
Function
Bell tower
Observation tower
Cathedral (religious centerpiece)
Skyscraper
Fame factor
Iconic tilt and medieval engineering
Symbol of modern engineering
Romanesque masterpiece
Tallest man made structure in the world
Relative height comparison
-
6x taller
21 meters taller
15x taller
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Frequently asked questions about Leaning Tower's height
Is it the tallest building in Pisa?
Surprisingly, no. The Pisa Cathedral next to it is taller—reaching about 77 meters at its highest point, compared to the tower’s maximum of 56–58 meters.
Was it ever the tallest bell tower in the world?
No, even at completion in 1372, it wasn’t the tallest. Many medieval towers, like the Giotto’s Campanile in Florence (about 84 meters), were significantly taller.
Is it getting shorter over time?
Not anymore. Before stabilization, the tilt increased slightly each year, subtly lowering its vertical height. But since restoration in the 1990s, it has been structurally stable, and its height remains consistent.
How does the tower’s height affect its shadow?
Due to the tilt and the curved profile, the shadow length can vary depending on the angle and time of day. It often casts a longer shadow than expected for a 56-meter-tall structure.
Will it ever straighten?
It would require unprecedented engineering and financial intent to completely straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Currency, there are no such plans.
Can I climb it?
Yes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa can be scaled using the stairs inside the structure. Find out more about climbing it, here.