Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Leaning Tower

In Roman times Ravenna was a lagoon city surrounded by water, with at times up to 50.000 inhabitants. The second largest naval base of the Roman Empire was located here. In the late 5th century, Roman authority in the West dissolved, and Romulus Augustulus was deposed by the general Odoacer in 476. Odoacer ruled as king of Italy for 13 years, but in 489 the eastern emperor Zeno sent the Ostrogoth king Theoderic to reconquer Italy. After losing the Battle of Verona, Odoacer retreated to Ravenna, where he withstood a three-year siege. In 493, Theoderic finally took Ravenna and supposedly killed Odoacer with his own hands. Ravenna became the capital of the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy. Theodoric died in 526 and various Ostrogothic military leaders took the Kingdom of Italy, but none was really successful. Meanwhile, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I opposed both Ostrogoth rule. In 535 his general Belisarius invaded Italy and in 540 conquered Ravenna. After the conquest of Italy was completed in 554, Ravenna became the seat of the Byzantine government in Italy. Under Byzantine rule, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ravenna held second place in Italy after the pope and played an important role during this period. In 751 Lombard king, Aistulf conquered Ravenna, thus ending Byzantine rule in northern Italy. King Pepin of the Franks attacked the Lombards and Ravenna gradually came under the direct authority of the Popes. Pope Adrian I authorized Charlemagne to take away anything from Ravenna that he liked, and Roman columns, mosaics, statues, and other portable items were taken north to enrich his capital of Aachen. In 1198 Ravenna led a league of Romagna cities against the Emperor. After the war of 1218, the Traversari family was able to impose its rule in the city, but after a short period, Ravenna was returned to the Papal States in 1248 and again to the Traversari until 1275. One of the most illustrious residents of Ravenna at this time was the exiled Florentine poet Dante. In 1441 the city was annexed to the Venetian territories. - The tower from the 12th century belonged to a prestigious family but already around 1320, became the property of the Municipality and was named Torre Civica (Civic Tower). From that moment on throughout centuries, its bells have rung out to citizens on religious and civil occasions, as well as in the event of calamity or danger. Over the course of many centuries of activity, the bell tower underwent numerous modifications, partly to address the stability problems that may have been caused by the oscillation of the bells. In 2000, the highest part of the tower (about 13 meters) was removed to prevent it from collapsing. However, even today, although reduced to a height of 26 meters, the building still suffers from a slow process of subterranean landsliding, which is also responsible for its progressive inclination, earning it the name “Leaning Tower”.

This museum holds a large collection of the works of art. Here are the originals, many of which are meanwhile replaced with replicas all around he Piazza dei Miracoli, as many of them crumbled and weathered. The museum is well worth a visit, but was closed (for a year?) in autumn 2014. The apse of the Cathedral with the replica of the "Pisa Griffin" (see previous uploads) towering over it - and the Leaning Tower. This panorama, seen from the museum, was once admired as well by Mr. Pierot, who carved his name into the balustrade.

This museum holds a large collection of the works of art. Here are the originals, many of which are meanwhile replaced with replicas all around he Piazza dei Miracoli, as many of them crumbled and weathered. The museum is well worth a visit, but was closed (for a year?) in autumn 2014. The visitors of the museum have a nice view onto the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery.

The Leaning Tower is the main tourist attraction in Pisa. Zillions of photos are taken here each week. The construction of the tower started exactly on August 14, 1173. Architects were either Bonanno Pisano, who created the bronze doors (previous uploads) or Diotisalvi, the architect of the Baptistery. The tower's tilt began already during the construction, caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft to properly support the structure's weight. Due to wars, Pisa waged against Genoa, Lucca and Florence, it was on halt for a century, but was continued and completed in 1372. A long discussion started in the 20th century, how to prevent the tower from toppling. 800 tonnes of lead counterweights got installed. In 1989, after a medieval tower in Pavia had collapsed, the Leaning Tower was closed to the public. Engineers were able to straighten the tower by 45 cms and the tower was opened to the public again end of 2001. In 2008, after the removal of 70 tons of ground, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized. They stated it would be stable for at least 200 years. These monkeys sit near the portal of the tower - since around 1200.

The Leaning Tower is the main tourist attraction in Pisa. Zillions of photos are taken here each week. The construction of the tower started exactly on August 14, 1173. Architects were either Bonanno Pisano, who created the bronze doors (previous uploads) or Diotisalvi, the architect of the Baptistery. The tower's tilt began already during the construction, caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft to properly support the structure's weight. Due to wars, Pisa waged against Genoa, Lucca and Florence, it was on halt for a century, but was continued and completed in 1372. A long discussion started in the 20th century, how to prevent the tower from toppling. 800 tonnes of lead counterweights got installed. In 1989, after a medieval tower in Pavia had collapsed, the Leaning Tower was closed to the public. Engineers were able to straighten the tower by 45 cms and the tower was opened to the public again end of 2001. In 2008, after the removal of 70 tons of ground, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized. They stated it would be stable for at least 200 years.

The Leaning Tower is the main tourist attraction in Pisa. Zillions of photos are taken here each week. The tower's tilt began already during the construction, caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft to properly support the structure's weight. A long discussion started in the 20th century, how to prevent the tower from toppling. 800 tonnes of lead counterweights got installed. In 1989, after a medieval tower in Pavia had collapsed, the Leaning Tower was closed to the public. Engineers were able to straighten the tower by 45 cms and the tower was opened to the public again end of 2001. In 2008, after the removal of 70 tons of ground, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized. They stated it would be stable for at least 200 years. The first tourists line up in the early morning.

The construction of the "Duomo" began in 1064 by the architect Busketo, who with this structure set the model for the distinctive Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. When the construction of this cathedral started, Pisa was on a height of political (and financial) power. Pisa was an important commercial centre controlling large parts of the Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy. In 1017 Pisa had militarily supported the Sardinian "Giudicati" (regional kings) to defeat Saracen troops in the north of Sardinia. Between 1030 and 1035, Pisa defeated rival towns in Sicily. In 1051–1052 admiral Jacopo Ciurini conquered Corsica. In 1063 admiral Giovanni Orlando, coming to the aid of the Norman Roger I, took Palermo from the Saracen. The gold treasure taken from the Saracens in Palermo allowed the Pisans to start the building of the cathedral - and all other building of the "Piazza del Duomo".

The Leaning Tower is the main tourist attraction in Pisa. Zillions of photos are taken here each week. Some decades again a discussion started, how to prevent the tower from toppling. 800 tonnes of lead counterweights got installed. In 1989, after a medieval tower in Pavia had collapsed, the Leaning Tower was closed to the public. Engineers were able to straighten the tower by 45 cms and the tower was opened to the public again end of 2001. The engineers returned - and in 2008 they had installed underground cables to the secure the tower. What not many people know, is, that over nighttime, the tower is moved in an upright position. Then all motors holding the cables are switched off. Power consumption is zero - and 1 terawatt of electricity is saved each year. Here is the tower seen in the upright night-position.

The cathedral is the heart of the Piazza del Duomo (aka "Piazza dei Miracoli"). Its construction began in 1064 and set the model for the Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. The Leaning Tower is to the right. I stayed for hours here that night.

Nightfall in Pisa. Most of the tourist have left the Piazza dei Miracoli already. Now the Pisans take a walk along the Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Leaning Tower.

Nightfall in Pisa. Most of the tourist have left the Piazza dei Miracoli already. Now the Pisans take a walk around the Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Leaning Tower.