The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Discover how Pisa’s famous leaning bell tower tilted over time—and how engineers managed to keep it standing.

Intermediate

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Step into Pisa’s cathedral square and you will quickly spot the star of the scene. The bell tower seems to tip like it is greeting you. It was meant to stand tall and perfectly straight. Construction began in 1173, when Pisa was rich and ambitious. Yet the ground beneath the tower was a quiet troublemaker. Because the soil was soft, the tower began to lean early in its life.