Fascinating Pisa Tower Facts
Fascinating Pisa Tower Facts
Discover interestingPisa Tower facts and uncover the truth behind the famous tilt. This page delves into two distinct sections, offering essential information about the Pisa Tower compiled as accurate quick facts, as well as some intriguing details and interesting tidbits, presented as fun facts that you won’t find in just any article about the leaning tower and that’ll make you go ooh and aah…
Quick Facts about the Pisa Tower
- Address: Tower of Pisa, Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
- Coordinates: 43°43′27″N 10°39′36″E
- Original Italian name: Torre Pendente di Pisa
- Construction started and finished: 1173 – 1372
- Architects: Several architects were involved throughout the construction, with the initial design attributed to Bonanno Pisano.
- Architectural styles: Pisan Romanesque (dominant), with some early Gothic influences
- Materials used: Primarily white marble with accents of green and black stone
- Height: 190.29 feet (58,36 meters)
- External diameter: 49.21 feet (15 meters)
- Weight: 14.453 tons
- Inclination: (current) about 3.97°
- Hewn stones: 29.424
- Stone surfaces: 83258.85 square feet (7.735 square meters)
- Capitals: 207
- Staircase: 273 steps
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since: 1987 (as part of the Pisa Cathedral Square)
- Renowned for: Its iconic leaning tilt
- Owner: Opera della Primaziale di Pisa, a religious institution responsible for the upkeep of the Cathedral complex.
- Number of visitors per year: Approximately 1 million
Fun Facts about the Pisa Tower
Forget the usual tourist fodder! Here are some jaw-dropping facts about the leaning tower that will leave you speechless!
The Tower Was Used as a Musical Instrument
During the Middle Ages, the Leaning Tower’s unique acoustics made it a surprisingly musical instrument. Musicians would climb the tower and play various instruments, utilizing the resonating chambers within to create an ethereal and otherworldly sound.
Galileo Galilei Used the Tower for Gravity Experiments
The renowned scientist Galileo Galilei conducted his famous experiments on falling objects by dropping objects from the different levels of the Leaning Tower, not from the actual top as is often depicted. These experiments helped lay the foundation for our understanding of gravity.
The Tower Has Moved More in Recent Years
Despite stabilization efforts, the Leaning Tower actually moved slightly outward from 1993 to 2001 due to underground water extraction. Thankfully, the subsequent stabilization project not only stopped the outward movement but also managed to slightly straighten the tower by about 45 cm (17.7 inches).
The Tower Holds a Guinness World Record
In 1995, the Leaning Tower of Pisa held the Guinness World Record for the “Guinness World Record for the Most Photographed Superlative Structure in the World.” While it may not hold the title anymore, it remains a highly photographed landmark.
There’s a Secret Room Inside
Legend has it that a secret room exists within the Leaning Tower, hidden behind one of the marble panels. While this has never been definitively proven, the story adds to the tower’s mystique.
The Leaning Tower Was Once Saved by… Bananas
During World War II, American troops, unaware of the historical significance of the tower, planned to use it as an artillery target. Luckily, an Italian soldier named Riccardo Bianchini reportedly intervened, placing crates of bananas around the tower base to fool Allied bombers into thinking it was just a fruit market.
The “Unsinkable” Tower
During World War II, the Allied forces received intelligence suggesting the Germans planned to use the Leaning Tower as a sniper observation point. To prevent this, the Allies devised a daring plan to blow it up! However, the plan was thankfully abandoned, and the tower, miraculously, remained standing.
The Leaning Tower Was Once Offered for Sale
In 1935, Benito Mussolini, facing economic difficulties, reportedly considered selling the Leaning Tower to an American millionaire. Thankfully, the deal never went through.
The Tower is Slowly Straightening Up
Due to the extensive stabilization efforts, the Leaning Tower is expected to continue straightening up at a very slow rate over the next few centuries, though it will likely never stand completely vertical.
The Tower “Grows” During the Summer
This might sound unbelievable, but the Leaning Tower actually “grows” slightly taller during the summer months! The expansion of the underlying soil due to warmer temperatures causes a miniscule increase in the tower’s height, which shrinks back down during the cooler winter months.
Book Pisa Tower Tickets & Tours
Explore below your Pisa Tower ticket options and pick from the finest selection:
Reserved Entrance to Leaning Tower of Pisa & Cathedral
6530 Reviews
From €24.60
GetYourGuide
Climbing the tower is a very different feeling, but it’s worth it.
Pisa: Leaning Tower and Cathedral Skip-the-Line Tickets
1071 Reviews
From €30
GetYourGuide
Wonderful! There was no queue, the view from the top is worth it.
Tickets to the Leaning Tower of Pisa with Audio Guide
3152 Reviews
From €35
Headout
No waiting time, immediate access at the booked time, everything clearly arranged and well signposted.
Avoid long ticket lines; proceed directly to the Leaning Tower at your chosen time slot and unveil the splendor of this iconic landmark with your Pisa Tower Ticket with Reserved Entrance. Enjoy inclusive access to the Pisa Cathedral as well.
“Wonderful! There was no queue, the view from the top is worth it. The climb is a little tiring but in 2 minutes with good breath you will reach the top of the tower. The cathedral is beautiful too. I booked the first time and there really weren’t many people, then it started to get crowded.”
Júlio César – Brazil, November 29, 2023 [Source: GetYourGuide]
Opt for this Pisa Tower ticket if you wish to explore not only the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa but also the adjacent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Enjoy skip-the-line entrance to both sites, allowing you to bypass the ticket office line for a seamless experience.
“Wonderful! There was no queue, the view from the top is worth it. The climb is a little tiring but in 2 minutes with good breath you will reach the top of the tower. The cathedral is beautiful too. I booked the first time and there really weren’t many people, then it started to get crowded.” Júlio César – Brazil, November 29, 2023 [Source: GetYourGuide]
Explore the magnificence of the Leaning Tower with this Pisa Tower Ticket, providing entry to the Pisa Monumental Complex, including the iconic Leaning Tower and Cathedral. Elevate your visit with an engaging audio guide, offering intriguing tales and facts.
“No waiting time, immediate access at the booked time, everything clearly arranged and well signposted. About the Leaning Tower of Pisa does not need much to say, who is ever there should not miss the climb and the view.”
Marius Oct, 2023 – [Source: Headout]
Discover the iconic Piazza dei Miracoli on a guided walking tour, exploring its architectural wonders, including the cathedral and baptistery. Opt for the option to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and afterward, independently explore the Sinopie Museum, OPA Museum, and cemetery with included tickets.
“We loved this tour! Our guide was so fun and shared so many fun facts with us about the cathedral, baptistry, and tower. We did the optional tower climb at the end, and I’m so glad we did! This was a great way to explore Pisa in a short amount of time.” Sarah – United States; September 30, 2023 [Source: GetYourGuide]
This unbeatable combo package features one-way transfers between Pisa Central Station and Pisa Airport, along with a Pisa Tower Ticket. Ideal for your Pisa trip, it offers access to the renowned Leaning Tower and Cathedral of Pisa, coupled with a hassle-free and fast transfer.
“Uncomplicated and fast connection between airport and train station, online booking of tickets easy and hassle-free. Everything is fine.”
Anke, Nov, 2023 [Source: Headout]
>> Check out the best places to eat near the Pisa Tower with our restaurant recommendations.
>> Find out how to get to the Pisa Tower and useful traveler tips on our dedicated page.
