Leaning Tower of Pisa 21MAR26

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: torre pendente di Pisa) is the freestanding bell tower of Pisa Cathedral, known for its nearly four-degree lean due to an unstable foundation. Located in Piazza del Duomo, it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, drawing over 5 million visitors annually. The tower stands at 55.86 meters (183 feet 3 inches) on the low side and 56.67 meters (185 feet 11 inches) on the high side, with a base wall width of 2.44 meters (8 feet). Estimated to weigh 14,500 tonnes, it has 296 or 294 steps, depending on the staircase. Construction began in the 12th century, but the tilt developed due to soft ground and worsened until completion in the 14th century, reaching 5.5 degrees by 1990. Stabilization efforts between 1993 and 2001 reduced the lean to 3.97 degrees.