As construction continued the builders tried to offset their mistake by adding taller columns and arches on the south side of the tower. Unfortunately, by then it was too late to turn back.

But it wasn’t until the second story was being built that the tower began to sink on one side. By giving the tower a shallow and relatively heavy foundation, they inadvertently doomed it from the outset.

Given that the name “Pisa” comes from the Greek word for “marshy land” you would think that the cathedral’s architects would have taken the subsoil into account while building a very tall bell tower. In fact, the bell tower was meant to be the tallest of its age and probably would have been if circumstances hadn’t thrown a wrench into the works. After sacking Palermo in 1063 the city government needed a place to display all of the treasures that adventurers had brought back from Sicily so they decided to construct the “Field of Miracles” which would eventually be home to a Cathedral, Baptistery, cemetery, and one very tall bell tower. Like any prosperous medieval Italian city, Pisa began to invest its new wealth in the construction grand buildings. The 12th century was a good one for Pisa the city’s military, commercial, and political importance grew as their once small seaport became a regional powerhouse. The tower was built to show off (with stolen money) The Allies intended to destroy the tower during WWII.Mussolini hated the tower and made it worse.The seven bells at the top have not rung since last century.Wars and economic strife may have saved the tower.

The lean creates some interesting imbalances.

The tower has leaned in multiple directions.

It’s not the only leaning tower in Pisa.

The tower was built to show off (with stolen money).

Italy leaning tower of pizza