2-359-821 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Cathedral and Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy. The construction of the Romanesque cathedral was begun in the 1060s, the architects being Buschetto and Rinaldo. The final element of the cathedral complex to be built was the campanile, or bell tower, which was begun in 1173. Unfortunately, after construction was under way uneven settling of the foundations caused the tower to lean. Work was suspended several times as solutions were sought, but eventually the leaning tower we see today was completed in the 14th century. The lean contiued to increase at the rate of 1.2mm a year until, by 1990, the tower was in danger of collapsing. The campanile was closed while engineers undertook strengthening work which reduced the lean by 44cm, a project that was completed in 2001. Stereoscopic card detail.