Leaning Tower of Pisa
Bonanno Pisano; Giovanni di Simone; Tommaso Pisano · Pisa, Italy · 1372
The Leaning Tower is the freestanding campanile of Pisa Cathedral and one of architecture's most famous responses to unstable ground. A cylindrical core is wrapped by stacked arcaded loggias whose delicate marble rhythm relates directly to the cathedral façade. Settlement began during construction, producing the characteristic tilt and prompting successive builders to adjust later levels. The long campaign stretched across nearly two centuries, and modern stabilization reduced the risk of collapse while preserving the visible inclination. Visitors experience the structure as both sculptural object and climbed interior. The date marks completion of the bell chamber at the end of the medieval building sequence.