THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA : A MIRACLE TILT
(By Subbaram Danda)
The Leaning Tower of Pisa would not have become a world renowned wonder but for an unexpected development as construction on it began about 840 years ago. In fact, it was planned to be a vertically erect eight-storey bell-tower. But when it reached the third level, it began to sink and tilt on account of improper foundation in soft soil. Periodical stoppage of work to allow the soil to get stabilized naturally and different measures to set it right all proved futile. When it was completed, it was really a Leaning Tower of Pisa. Ironically, the unintended tilt brought it name and fame – and enormous revenue too from tourism!
Pisa is a city in the Tuscany region of Central Italy. In the 12th century, Pisa was very affluent and its people desired to showcase to the world the city’s prominence. Mobilizing funds, they decided to build a Cathedral Square called Piazza dei Duomo. The plan talked of a cathedral, a baptistery (where baptism, formal ceremonious initiation into Christian faith, takes place), a bell tower and a cemetery.
Today, visitors walk past a long row of cluttered curio shops warding off pestering vendors to reach an arch of welcome leading to the Piazza dei Duomo. As they enter it, the four buildings in dazzling white greet them standing majestically on a vast carpet of emerald green lawns. Of course, the cynosure of all eyes is the Leaning Tower of Pisa located at the far end. They make a beeline to it.
Crowning glory
Regarded as the crowning glory of the Piazza, the tower was designed as a cylindrical one rising to a height of 185 feet. Constructed in white marble, it has eight storeys, including the top floor of the bell chamber, which houses seven big bells. The exterior of the building presents arches all through the eight levels supported by intricately decorated capitals atop more than 200 columns. The emotional impact of this leaning architectural wonder on the viewers is stupendous.
Inside, there is a spiral staircase with 293 steps. As the visitors move up and up trudging in a near claustrophobic flight of steps, a strange feeling overtakes them created by the tilting walls and the slanting steps. For the weak and the weary, there are outlets at frequent intervals to move out of the steps area and relax for a while. At the end, when the highest floor is reached, the exercise proves satisfying. Walking along the circular corridor taking in a 360 degree panoramic view of the city is exhilarating. It is a unique experience of its kind – to be on top of the tilted roof of the world!
One can go near the bells and take a close look. The seven bells have been designed to produce the seven musical notes. They are all large and weighty. Each one has its own name. The largest, called l’Assunta, has a bas-relief representing “The Ascent of the Virgin Mary.” It weighs three-and-a-half tons. For quite a time the bells were rung by swinging them with the help of long ropes. But in 1930s the practice was stopped in a bid to maintain the stability of the tower. Instead, clappers within the bells were actuated by electromagnets. This system continues to this day.
Galileo’s experiments
The tower is credited with some major historical events. Galileo Galilei, Father of Modern Physics, conducted experiments on gravity from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the late sixteenth century, the Italian physicist and astronomer climbed to the top floor and dropped two spheres of distinctly different weight. They fell to the ground at the same time, watched by a number of people. He thereby demonstrated that the duration of their descent was not dependent on their mass, thus refuting the view of Aristotle and creating a new chapter in Physics.
During the World War II Nazis of Germany used the tower as an observation post. But the allied forces decided not to shoot it down and it was saved from destruction.
Tourists swarm the Piazza dei Duomo, thousands every day reaching a peak in summer months. With a façade of grey and white marble columns and arches, the differently domed cathedral of Duomo Santa Maria is a sure attraction. The pulpit, sculptures and paintings inside are admirable things of lasting beauty. The Baptistery, which also has a dome portraying many intricate decorations, offers an “audio-treat” to the visitors. A guard makes a few high-pitched sounds at a place inside and in a moment they reverberate melodiously – the effect of echoes going round and round the dome and coming back. The cemetery is a gracefully elongated cloister enclosing a burial ground with earth reportedly brought from Golgotha, the hill where Jesus was crucified. It also has a large collection of ancient Roman stone coffins and splendid medieval frescoes.
Stability at long last
From the beginning, the tilting tower has been a source of constant worry for engineers, architects and other specialists. Their efforts to prevent it from sinking and tilting, though slow and imperceptible at times, have produced only limited results. When its construction was completed in 1370 AD, its inclination measured 1.6 degrees from the vertical. Steps to hold it continued.
A few times in its long history the tower came painfully close to toppling. In recent times, major restoration work took place between 1990 and 2001. At long last after fresh measures it was announced in May 2008 that the Pisa tower has for the first time stopped leaning further and “the tower should remain stable for at least another 200 years.” It now leans at 3.99 degrees. Its top stands inclined by about 13 feet.
In 1987, the Cathedral Square was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. About a million people visit it every year. In its eight centuries of history the Leaning Tower of Pisa remained perilously tilted, throwing up anxious moments at times, but never tumbled -- a miracle in itself. The Piazza dei Duomo has aptly come to be known as the Piazza dei Miracoli, the Square of Miracles!
October 15, 2011 (1050 words)
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