Actually, the Campanile (tower), Duoma, and Baptistry all form the "Field of Miracles". Originally, the tower was built as an accompaniement to the church, but now, the tower is what draws everyone to this place.
The Duomo was started in 1204,
while the tower was begun in 1173.
The Baptistry, Duomo, and Tower...all together.
Interestingly, the tower tilt began even before the 3rd level was completed. With the tower being constructed on sandy subsoil, construction was completed in 1350. These laws of gravity attracted many a tourist, including Galileo who climbed to the top to conduct his experiments on falling objects. Recent interventions have decreased the lean by 14 inches with the tower being actually secured to the ground. Today, the tower is now safe for the public to enter once more and climb to the top.
Well, that is....most tourists. At this point in the tour, I had a bit of a fit when I learned that our tour guide had not communicated the proper process to follow IF someone wanted to ascend to the top of the tower. Come on, woman! How do you not know that you need reservations, and that there is a limit to the number of people who can climb to the top at any given time? Sadly, we learned the correct details too late in order to get a ticket and make the ascent. To say I was a bit peeved is putting it mildly.
So, we made the best of the situation and had a little of "photography fun" in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
2 comments:
too bad the person that took that first picture of you guys on here actually aligned it vertically moreso with the tower, so the church seems crooked. an american in pisa?
you are too clever!
Post a Comment