The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Abstract

THIS famous tower will doubtless always be a question, like the man in the iron mask and other historical mysteries. Most architects, however, will be very slow to believe that it would have been built intentionally leaning on the general grounds that, however adventurous the architect, the clients would not have stood it. The analogy of the leaning towers of Bologna is hardly a sound one, as these plain shafts of brickwork, much like tall chimneys, can hardly be other than cases of settlement due to indifferent foundations. It should be remembered that construction was not a strong point with the Italians in the Middle and Renaissance Ages. In the case of the Tower of Pisa, Taylor particularly remarks on the wedge-shaped courses, which show an attempt to straighten the shaft. The best explanation appears to be that the tower was commenced, settled on its marshy bed, and that when the building was continued after a long interval it was considered safe to continue the work up to the limit of stability which could be calculated by the mathematicians of the epoch. The overhang is given by Taylor as 13 feet.