The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Pisa is well known for Its Leaning Tower which is one of the most popular tower in the world, but the truth is, not only the tower is leaning; a lot of buildings in Pisa are leaning because of its sandy foundation.  

The square where the Leaning Tower is located is well known as “The Square of Miracles”, this name was created by an Italian poet  who  called it "Prato dei Miracoli" (Meadow of Miracles) while viewing the beauty of the marble monuments against the lush garden aboard a plane.   It is one of the best tourist attractions in  Tuscany  (please check my separate blog about Tuscany here) and Italy as a whole. Inside the Square of Miracles you will find the Duomo (Cathedral), the Campanile (free standing bell tower), the  Baptistery, the Camposanto (Monumental Cemetery) and the museums. The square is situated within one of the oldest medieval city walls.

       

The Square of Miracles, in the picture: The Baptistery, The Camposanto, The Duomo and the Tower

In 1987 the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Duomo

The Duomo (Pisa Cathedral) and the Tower

Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa) is truly a work of art.  Yes the Leaning Tower is the icon of Pisa because of its popularity, but the Duomo  dominates the Square of Miracles.

The Interior of the Duomo

Coffer Ceiling

The  Baptistery

The Baptistery of Pisa  has a circular design. On the top of the dome, there's the statue of Saint John the Baptist to whom the Baptistery was dedicated to. 

For a more detailed description and more photos inside the Baptistery, check this link.

The Tower

The Campanile or Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower. 

While construction of the tower, due to its sandy foundation the building started to lean on its south side. The government decided to stopped the construction and it was left for a century. They resumed the construction on 1272 and adjusted the lean by constructing the upper floor with one side taller than the leaning side. 

The Tower was closed in 1990 because it was in danger of falling over but after construction work costing millions, tourists can once again enter the 800-year-old tower. To the naked eye, the 56-metre-high tower looks the same as it always has. But in fact the lean has been corrected by 45 centimeters.
                                                               Source:  - http://news.bbc.co.uk

For those who love souvenir shops, there are a lot of shops at a designated place inside the Square of Miracles. Outside the ancient walls up to the main street are also lined up with so many street shops! So enjoy shopping and of course enjoy The Square of Miracles!! 

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