Chapter 4 - Architecture

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Architect -Unknown. May have been designed by Bonanno Pisano and Guglielmo of Innsbruck

"Leaning Tower of Pisa"

     This peice of remarkable architecture is located in Pisa, Italy. I chose this peice because I am Itailan and I love learning about the history and culture from Italy any chance I get. I have always wanted to visit this place and take a picture of me trying to hold it up. 

     This tower is 191 1/2 feet tall and has an estimated weight of about 14,500 tons. It was built in the 11th century and was not intended to be a leaning tower. This was to be a cathedral bell tower and the architect didn't account for the base of the tower being built on a dense section of clay causing the leaning. Until 1990 the tower leaned at a 10 degree angle, and now has an angle of 5.5. That is a huge difference. From start to finish, the leaning tower of Pisa took over 800 years to be constructed- probably the longest construction time in the world! If not for the tower's lean it would not be a historic landmark that everyone knows and loves today. This is an example of how a simple mistake can change everything and what makes our world so unique and beautiful.
     As far as the architecture goes it has intricate carvings, columns, archs, and arcades. A lot of repitition adds to this buildings beauty going completely around it. Proportion at one time might have been then but as I explained has had some issues with the soil underneath. The architect did not account for his context, or environment. Which was a mistake at the time but turned out to be a great way for us to always remember his peice.