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Token Tourist Photo!
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Terez Anon (terez93)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 57 W: 72 N: 209]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (530) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2000-08 |
| Categories: Architecture |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-05-09 21:06 |
| Viewed: 699 |
| Points: 6 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Yea, this is a pretty common sight, and not a very remarkable photo, but here it is! So, the official name is the Torre Pendente Di Pisa. It functions as the Campanile (Bell Tower). It's older than most people realize; it was begun in 1173 and was worked on until 1350, but arguably it has been worked on for centuries. There were various interruptions during periods of war, and construction was halted in 1178 when the tilt was discovered. The last phase completed only a few years ago consisted of efforts to stabilize the base and prevent collapse. The "Leaning Tower of Pisa" would have probably remained completely unremarkable, as Pisa is a relatively small town, were it not for the odd angle of this famous monument, which has become a sort of a de facto symbol of Italy. It may have suffered the fate of many other bell towers and been torn down if not for a creative mistake! The architect who first realized that there was no way of straigtening the tower was Tomasso di Andrea da Pontedera (1275). Some assert that it's rather ordinary, but I think it's actually quite beautiful and delicate. It stands 8 stories high (about 185 feet). The bells were added in 1198. The tower was closed to the public in 1990 but reopened in December of 2001. Because of the stabilization efforts in recent years, visitors are once again allowed to ascend to the top, which is quite a climb. There are approximately 294 steps to the top!
Over the years, various attempts have been made to try to keep the thing from toppling over. Cememt was injected into the base in 1934, which unfortunately only made the leaning worse. More than 600 tons of lead were added in 1995, but the tilting continued; it shifted 1/7th of an inch in a single night in 1995, which may not seem like a lot, but even a slight shift places tremendous additional weight and strain on the aging structure. Collapse was thus emminent, as the tower began to tilt even further (about a milimetre per year) as of 1997, and it became obvious that the tower wasn't going to survive another decade or so if something wasn't done. It was literally restained by a cable for many years to try to keep it from moving further, until permanent efforts were taken to rescue the tower from itself! The tilt was corrected by about a foot and a half (18") and it was thus rescued (for the time being)! |
tigra, pady has marked this note useful
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- tigra
(2898)
- [2007-05-09 22:04]
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Wonderful capture! It looks like an old picture.
Well-done!
Katia
Hi,
Excellent POV,
many compliments for this work.
CeccoPhoto!!
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- pady
(4796)
- [2007-07-08 3:18]
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Classical view but composed with great interest.
Cheers
Pierre-ANdré
