Pisa Buildings & Towers

The Leaning Tower, or Torre Pendente, is one of the world's most recognized structures due to its amazing tilt. There is roughly 13 feet (3.96 m) difference between the top and the bottom. The tower was begun in 1174, but construction stopped at the third storey because the tower began to sink into the soft ground. Some 90 years later the project was completed, at a height of eight slanted storeys. It is believed by many to be one of the sites where astronomer and physicist Galileo conducted gravitation experiments. Visitors climbing to the top may experience a shift in equilibrium, but will be rewarded with a grand view of Pisa. At night the tower is lit with floodlights, only adding to its mystique.