By the time builders had finished the third of eight planned stories about five years later, the tower’s foundation had settled unevenly on the ground beneath it, a dense mixture of clay, sand and shells. As a result, the structure had begun to tilt visibly toward the south.
Why Does the Leaning Tower Lean?
One of the most iconic monuments in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, has been captivating visitors for over 800 years. Every visitor to this Italian city has come for the same reason – to observe the 229-foot-tall leaning tower. But why does the Leaning Tower lean? The answer lies in the tower’s unique history and geological location.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was designed and constructed by master Mason Bonanno Pisano in 1173, but the tower didn’t actually lean until construction was nearly complete in 1372. It was discovered that the building had a pronounced tilt to the southwest but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the cause of this tilt was determined.
The Leaning Tower leans due to a combination of soil composition and environmental factors. The tower was built on a soft clay foundation which caused the center of gravity to shift during the building process causing the tower to tilt. Subsequent environmental factors such as rising groundwater and floods also contributed to the tilt, causing further soil erosion.
Over the years, engineers and scientists have worked hard to save the Leaning Tower from collapse. In 1990, a team
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