The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Our class have been learning about the leaning tower of Pisa.

 Its perilous incline had defied gravity since the 12th century. Previously the 56m bell tower's tilt was increasing by more that a millimeter a year creating a danger that it could collapse all together. In 1993 it was leaning by 5.4m, compared to 3.8m in 1817 and just 1.4m in 1350. 

The leaning tower of Pisa weighs 14,500 tonnes. Although it took quite a long time for construction to be completed, the official estimated weight of the tower is just shy of 14,500 tonnes. 

The tower took over 800 years to completely finish. With the final modifications to the tower made in the early 21 st century, the entire process took over 800 years. It was completed in 1350 (over 200 years after its initial construction), but has undergone constant additions and modifications since that date. 

Construction was halted for 100 years. Once the tower began to lean the construction was halted for 100 years. During this time, engineers hoped that the clay beneath the tower would settle and harden enough to permit further construction. A bad idea made the lean worse. Alessandro Della Gherardesca tried to show the world the intricately decorated base of the tower by digging a walkway around the base. The result of this was a disaster when his workers struck water, flooding the ditches.

Mussolini tried to fix the tower. Embarrassed of the tower, and calling it a disgrace to national pride, he attempted to fix the tower by cement counterweight drilled into the base of it. It didn't work. The tower was almost torn down. American soldiers, under the orders to destroy all buildings that may act as a potential nest for enemy snipers, nearly destroyed the famous tower during World War Two.