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World / Europe / Italy / Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany, Central Italy



Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany, Central Italy

Before we start our virtual tour above the famous Falling Tower of Pisa I would like to express my gratitude to Francesco Maria De Lorenzo, the Italian photographer, for his tireless and altruistic help. 

It is due to Francesco's support and the farseeing policy of Pisa City Administration, that we were able to photograph the Falling Tower from a bird's eye view. 

Hundred thousands of people from around the world visit our website daily. I am certain that the Falling Tower and the small, but extremely beautiful city of Pisa will proudly represent Italy among other most interesting places of the world, photographed from a bird's eye view.

Oleg Gaponyuk


Traditionally all popular tourist destinations are called "monuments". Italian Pisa is not exactly a "monument", but more of a "mystery" due to many reasons, starting with a fact that nobody exactly knows who built it. The most popular theory says that it was built by Etruscan civilization. However, there are scientists, who believe that ancient Greeks or Ligures built Pisa. Unknown origin of the city makes it even harder to figure out the meaning of its name. So it's Pisa, just Pisa — an untranslatable set of characters.

First of all, Pisa is famous for Torre Pendente di Pisa, The Leaning Tower of Pisa. It's so famous that it outshines all other Pisa tourist attractions and monuments combined. Locals call it the "long-drawn miracle". Ironically enough, the tower is located at Piazza dei Miracoli (the Square of Miracles).

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

But, of course, the name is just a coincidence; because the whole Square of Miracles is so miraculously beautiful that it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As for the Leaning Tower, it is not exactly a miracle, but a simple architect's mistake.

However, this is where a new layer of mysteries opens! Construction of the Leaning Tower (also known as the bell tower of Duomo di Pisa (Santa Maria Assunta)) took almost two centuries... But who initiated it? There is no exact answer. We only know that the construction started August 9th, 1173.

According to one of the theories, the project belongs to some architect by the name of Bonanno Pisano, who discovered his mistake only after they finished the ground floor (11 meters high) — by that time vertical deflection was about 4 centimeters. The architect aborted the construction (or has been kicked out, according to other version), fled the city, and spent the rest of his life in poverty and obscurity.

However, historians offer few more names, including Gerardo di Gerardo and Diotisalvi. Although each one could easily be the project's author, there are certain architectural arguments against their authorship. History preserved only names of architects, who continued the erection of the bell tower: Giovanni di Simone, Tommaso di Andrea Pisano and many others. Almost two hundred years of construction provided a lot of work for each of the architects, but none of them was able to straighten the tower at its foundation level. Only its upper part, built in the second half of the 14th century, looks more or less straight. 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

It is still a mystery to modern architects, why the tower is leaning. Some theories say that it is due to a misplaced water pump, difference in soil density, or a very banal "insufficient funding" reason. Nevertheless, as soon as the tower was finished, Pisa city authorities had a new challenge — how to stabilize it.

Ugly-looking supporting structures were out of the question, as well as some other not so aesthetic solutions, including really funny one: a giant ferroconcrete statue of architect Bonanno supporting his creation with his head, arms and a knee. Other experts suggested praying God, so he would keep the tower from falling; or "making a giant san "cushion" around the tower, so it doesn't shatter if it actually collapses". Finally, many years of stabilization work resulted in replacing crumbling pillars, reinforcing the subsoil, installing counterbalances and other advanced technology solutions. After the corrective reconstruction was finished in 2010, the angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa decreased from 5°30' to 3°54' degrees. 

At Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa

Another interesting fact: the name of Galileo Galilei is associated with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This famous resident of Pisa carried out his scientific experiments, such as dropping objects of different weight from the top of the tower, and — as a result — bringing down the wrath of locals upon himself. However, we have no proof of that. The only true fact is that the great scientist was indeed born, raised and studied in the city of Pisa.

Actually, it would be wrong to suggest that the famous Leaning Tower is the only thing that Pisa has to offer. It has a very rich and fascinating history. For example, there was a time, when the whole city was excommunicated for several years. The Cathedral in the Square of Miracles was built on money that Pisano fleet stole from Arab pirates. Bold and freedom-loving Pisa preserved its fascinating and centuries-old architecture for us to see: from elegant boardwalks to grand royal palace... 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Welcome to the virtual tour over the most mysterious city of Italy... 

Photography by Stanislav Sedov and Dmitry Moiseenko

15 June 2012

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Add your review about "Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany, Central Italy"



Very beatiful they say, but this shit ain't falling so I'm a little sad!

Denis Don't mispell, pls, Brazil

Extraordinária...Cai hoje ou àmanhã?

Fernando Vaz, Portugal

Awesome article.

Thelma Witmer, Luxembourg

BELLISIMO

norma rodriguez, Uruguay

beautifull remeber travel 1980 visit europa

MANFRED KERN, Chile

En Pisa, La Plaza de los Milagros esta compuesta por la iglesia, el baptistero, el cementerio y la torre, es un lugar maravilloso e impresionante.

Literalmente, me fascina.

Lilia de la Torre, Cuba

En Pisa, La Plaza de los Milagros está compuesta por la iglesia, el batistero, el cementerio y la torre, es un lugar maravilloso e impresionante.

Literalmente, me fascinó.

Lilia de la Torre Navarro.

La Habana, Cuba

Lilia de la Torre, Cuba

Es verdaderamente una maravilla. Felicitaciones a quienes nos permitieron apreciar tan portentosa obra de la humanidad.

Jesús Eduardo Campillo Parra, Colombia

★★★☆☆

adhu s, India

Awesome !!

Antonio Camilletti, Sr, USA

Excelente !!!

DIEGO GONZALEZ, Costa Rica

★★★★☆

Bob Jose, USA

Really wonderful

swathi sri, India

Pisa tower is really very beautiful and fascinating.

kinza shaheen, Pakistan

nice job sir..thanks

falguni PATEL, India

Superb. Please add venues from UK

Hugh Grice, United Kingdom

Hi, beautiful, skilled, hopefully someday I'll grasp it as close to the Iranian Baby

ramin biabani, Iran

very good
there is in the our country many beautiful place that you can take picture form it.

effat hoseini, Iran

To all these friends: Pisa is not particularly nice. But this square is amazing!
To the user who asked info on the Italian village of Casalzuigno, please contact me.

Andrea BC, Italy

Wow! I was there in 1968 and the only thing that looks different is that they cut the grass.

Beautiful job. Thank you.

Kerry Smith, Canada

Congratulations

adan aramayo, Bolivia

Thank you so Much, this is ultimate photography, you are truely unbeliveable, I enjoyed so much watching your great photography, God bless you.

Hossein Alimadadian, USA

beautiful pictures great work I realy apreciate it

Henrye Pimentel, Macedonia

Very very very Great

Arad Raoufi, Iran

very well try to give the entertanment to peoples who cant come there.

mohammad jhangir, Pakistan

i see this images take it vary beutifull. its vary vary nice pictures.i hop that like all person this images

ajruddin baliyana, India

I Love You airpano
you are the best...

Eliya Kaviyani, Iran

very good and nice and pretty and beautiful,etc

Ali uneci, Iran

Excellent job,THANKS ALOT

Hossein Sadeghi, Iran

As an Iranian , I really like it so but I can not come here, but the beauty of Nowhere

sadegh ., Iran

verry good

baran bidaran, Iran

wonderful...
perfect...

melika ..., Iran

very very nice...

safie kord, Iran

Anyone out there that has pictures of Casal Zuigno, Italy, I would really appreciate. My grandparents came from there but I've never seen a picture or anything about the area and I don't know anything about it. I want to send something to the Catholic Church there but I don't have a name. I think my family will be registered in the Church and probably buried from the same church..... Thank you....

Claire Gehrett, USA

"niceeeeeeeeee"

Rajen maur, India

"Outstanding! The historical data most interesting. Well done.."

jie pang, China

This is really lovely!

I will be moving to Naples in September and look forward to seeing this in person.

Judith Brown, USA

Simply beautiful.....

Azhar Malik, Pakistan

Bella! Mille Grazie!

Steffie Wilson, USA

Wonderful.Photos are exceptional.

MITITELU DUMITRU, Romania

I enjoyed reminiscing our visit to Pisa. The pictures and the Panorama was mor clear and better than the pictures that we took. Thnaks for posting these panoramas.

Venkatarao Rao, Virgin Islands (US)

WoWWWWWW

dhairyasheel chavan, India

I have visited personally with my family in the year 2010. After looking this views it remind me the precious moments spent there. Very good photography"

k.k. mathur, India

LINDO...............MARAVILHOSO.....

elvira storf, Brazil

Fantastico! Siete veramente bravi. Complimenti e grazie di esistere e di dare al mondo intero una così grande emozione e conoscenza di luoghi lontani

Joseph Amodio, Malta

Am going to Tuscanny in April 2013 and m looking forward to visiting Pisa. Thank you for the wonderful preview

Sondra Conk, USA

Incredible, fabulous

Liliane Vilaire, Haiti

We visited place in April 2006. But this is more interesting view from air than ground view. Keep it up . Ashok, Mumbai ,INDIA

Ashok PETHE, India

itis very beautiful.I live in Italy and I Know Pisa .but to see these monuments from the air is still more interesting .Thanks for your work Liliana

Liliana Gaszek, Italy

ITS A FANTASTIC WORK BY THE ENTIRE TEAM I SALUTE THEM, KEEP IT UP

SANJEEV KASLIWAL, India


Thank you. We'll do it.

Varvara, AirPano

Very professional

Grant Wong, Hong Kong

Beautiful, beautiful. We visited there in 2009 and left a huge part of ourselves. Italy is like a "soul" home to me. Seeing the panorama and hearing the music brings such an intense feeling of home sickness.
THANK YOU!

Jane Eisele, USA

I have visited personally in the year 2011. After looking this views it remind me the precious moments spent there. Very good Website.

KETU PARIKH, India

Its an amazing piece of work...:) people who cannot go there, can see how it looks like....:)

christy sunny, India

so best

ANIL KUMAR SONAR., USA

Great Effort!!!

YOGESH RATHI, India

Just wanted to thank the entire team for reminding me what a beautiful world we live in!! Thank you all so much for sharing your amazing work. Such a joy to see and the music adds such a wonderful finishing touch.

Wendy Stevenson, Canada

THE VIEW FROM THE HELICOPTER IS FANTASTIC.

akhtar maqsood, USA

The iPad view of this Pisa location doesn't work. It shows some other site. Please fix.

Bob Christie, Canada


Hi Bob,

Can you check it now? It should be fine.

Best regards
Sergey Rumyantsev

AirPano

wonderful

John Varanelli, Italy

Marvelous views! I visited this monument on June, 2006 and could appreciate now things that I could not then.

Mariecel Maldonado, Puerto Rico

Nádherné úchvatné jen se ponořit do obrazu a jste součástí toho obrazu a prostoru.

Zdenek Hodulík, Czech Republic

It's a wonderful !!!

Prakashkumar Patel, India

I am realy grateful to all,who contributes from A to Z and with their contribution,all of us benefited.100 marks out of 05.Thanks again.with all the good wishes.Regards.M.Azam Shad

Muhammad Shad, Pakistan

Absolutely mesmerizing and once again very gifted and talented people are here in this world. Love to see more of these.

Nimmi Suri, USA

LAST SEPT.MY WIFE AND I WERE IN PISA AS PART OF A TOUR OF CENTRAL ITALY,PRIOR TO A CRUISE OUT OF VIENNA. IT WAS A THRILL TO SEE IT AGAIN THROUGH THE VIRTUAL TOUR. THANK YOU DON @ DIANNE COOK

DON COOK, Canada

excellent

RAJEEV SINGH, India

A world full of wonder, thankyou.

Michael Porter, New Zealand

Excellent job as I love these kind so I will be in my file for our future to remember that we went there, thank you

Julie Cruickshank, Canada

Really great effort to capture this man made beauty.

TRISHITA KOLE, India

Bella Italia e ancora bella Toscana con suo Torro di Pisa.
Io spero di vederlo anno prosimo!

PASCU IOAN, Romania

gracias por esto es maravillosoooo'''
lla conosco el mundo con esta pajina.

alfredo luna, USA

first i would like to say thanks as now after visiting thru this site i m able to explain more about this. really enjoyed...a LOT.

asif Khan, India

Amazing concept. My mother is 92yrs, and can't travel anymore. But thanks to project like this, and Google Earth, she can visit all such places, without leaving her home. Thanks the team, well done.

Regards

R Lele, Australia

It's a wonderful story that I as 1 never knew and I thank the one who thought of teling it in such a way.

Donna Lehotay, USA

ES FANTASTICO QUE DESDE EL SILLON ANTE LA PANTALLA DEL ORDENADOR, PUEDAS VIAJAR Y LLEGAR DONDE NUNCA HAYAS PODIDO ESTAR.
GRACIAS POR ESTA ALEGRIA DE PODER VERLO.
M.F.ESTANISLAO IBARZ Y BIELSA

M.F. ESTANISLAO IBARZ BIELSA, Spain


Estimado Estanislao, muchas gracias por su mensaje. Estamos contentos de informarle que muy pronto nuestra pagina web será representada en Español http://www.airpano.com/translate_to_spanish.php?set_language=2. Hasta luego!

Varvara, AirPano

Outstanding! The historical data most interesting.
Well done..

Ed Nelson, USA

Fabuloso,fabuloso !!!

German Porras c, USA

So many uses of your work,--art history, cultural diffusion, the study of architecture, little glimses of history, etc. Always a joy and a privilege to view your work. Correcting for "perspective" must have been challenging with a leaning tower.

Meryl Wieder, USA

"WONDERFULL'

"ESSHHA PHHALE KHABI NAHI DEKHA '
( this is hindi words )

Ramautar Agarwalla, India

It was a present surprise to have a panoromic view fo Leaning Tower of Pissa, of which I had lerned only in the school book, See the Advent of Technology, which brought this gift. Tanks once again.

Avinash Limaye, India

Votre travail photographique est éblouissant et la mise à disposition du public de vos réalisations traduit un sens aigü de la diffusion culturelle désinteressée.
Félicitations.

Roger Bodin, France

Una forma maravillosa de viajar por el mundo! Buen trabajo, es la página más interesante que encontré por casualidad

Marlene Morales, Paraguay

همیشه دوست داشتم اینجا را از نزدیک ببینم

Morteza Fallah, Iran

★★★★★

Neda s, Iran

v good

Dr Sameer Butala, India

REALLY SUPRISED TO SEE YOUR WORK. I FELT VERY VERY HAPPY AND ENJOYED A LOT - WATCHING YOUR WEBSITE. I AM SURE YOU PEOPLE HAVE ALL CAPABILITIES TO DELIVER MIRACLES LIKE THIS AND PROVE YOURSELF AS GIFTED CHILDREN OF GOD.

PULAPARTHI SATYANARAYANA, India