Property for Sale in Pisa

Pisa - not only leaning tower

Who does not know the city of Pisa, which is famous for its leaning tower? But this location is surprising because you only have to look beyond the tower to discover a lively, green, joyful and peaceful city.  In addition to its artistic and historical treasures, you should know that this is the seat of national research in Italy. Visiting it, even for a few days, may lead you to the decision to live there. 
Piazza dei Miracoli with its leaning tower and the enormous cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which looks like the residence of some giant, there is also the beautiful Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista, which is the largest in Italy. The square is surrounded by a beautiful park and is the most photographed area of Pisa.  You cannot remain immune to its charm, but Pisa is not only this part. 
The Royal Palace in the Lugarno part, near Piazza dei Miracoli, is another huge monumental building that testifies to the city's great political and economic influence in the past. This structure belonged to the Caetani family and later to the Dè Medici. 
The Lugarni di Pisa walk takes place along one of the rivers running through the city. Here you will find many other historical monuments and the Church of Santa Maria della Spina. 
You then arrive at Piazza dei Cavalieri where there is a palace with special workmanship on the façade that recalls coats of arms of ancient knights and others. In the centre is the Statue of Cosimo I. 
Finally, if you want to enjoy some relaxation and eat something good, you have to go to Borgo Stretto and then to the Arsenale Mediceo. 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italy's most famous landmarks and a top attraction in Tuscany. It stands in Piazza dei Miracoli, the Square of Miracles, together with the cathedral, the baptistery and a cemetery. In 2023, this spectacular building celebrated its 850th birthday. 

Clearly visible angle of inclination

The tower is 56 metres high, has a diameter of 12 metres and weighs 14,500 tonnes. It was built from white Carrara marble and has seven bells that correspond to the different notes of the musical scale. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is famous for its clearly visible tilt, which makes it a symbol of engineering. It leans about 4 degrees to the southeast, which corresponds to a deflection of 3.90 metres at the top. The reason for its tilt lies in the soft and uneven ground, which consists of sand, loam and clay. It was unable to bear the weight of the tower evenly, causing the foundation to sink and slide.

850th birthday in 2023

The foundation stone for the tower was laid in 1173. It will therefore celebrate its 850th birthday in 2023. The free-standing campanile was intended to be the bell tower for the neighbouring cathedral. The tower was designed by Bonanno Pisano and was to be built in the Romanesque style with eight floors and a bell dome. However, after the first three floors had been completed, the tower began to lean. Work was interrupted several times and was not completed until the 14th century. The architects tried to compensate for the tilt by building the upper floors slightly higher and at a greater angle. The project failed miserably, as the result was a tower that was not only leaning but also visibly curved. 

Stabilisation in the present day

Over the centuries, the tower became increasingly crooked and threatened to collapse several times. It was frequently restored and stabilised in order to save it. The most important interventions took place between 1990 and 2001, when the tower was closed to the public. Experts removed soil from under the foundation, reinforced the structure with steel cables and counterweights, and reduced the tilt by 44 centimetres. Since then, the tower has become safer and more stable and is regularly monitored.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa today: climbing it is possible again

Today, the tower is open to visitors again, who can admire it from the inside and outside. To visit the tower, you have to buy a ticket, which also includes admission to the cathedral. There is only one catch: the number of visitors per day is limited. 850 years ago, the architects could not have imagined that tourists from all over the world would one day want to climb their building. Inside the tower, a spiral staircase with 294 steps winds its way up. The steps are uneven and narrow, and there is no railing. The climb is therefore strenuous and requires great caution.

Buy tickets in advance

To ensure that you can actually climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the day of your stay in the city, you should reserve your tickets in advance online. You can choose between a ticket for the tower or a combination ticket that also includes a guided tour of the cathedral. As tickets are often sold out weeks in advance, you should make your reservation as early as possible.