Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts for Kids

A Picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Name: Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Location: Pisa, Italy, Europe
  • Address: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
  • Built: Between 1173 and 1372
  • Significance: The buildings nearly four-degree lean
  • Visitors: 5+ million (annually)

25 Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts for Kids

  1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower of a cathedral.
  2. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is also called the Tower of Pisa or the Bell Tower of Pisa.
  3. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is famous for its almost 4° lean, which was caused by its unstable foundation. Before work was done to stabilize the Leaning Tower of Pisa it reached a 5.5 4° lean in 1990.
  4. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is built on soft soil that is unable to support its weight.
  5. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is in Pisa, Italy, Europe.
  6. The street address for the Leaning Tower of Pisa is Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy.
  7. The GPS coordinates for the Leaning Tower of Pisa are 43°43′23″N 10°23′47″E.
  8. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built using a Romanesque architectural style.
  9. Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1173 and was completed in 1372.
  10. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built over 199 years in three stages.
  11. Marble and stone were used to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
  12. The Leaning Tower of Pisa reaches a maximum height of 183.3 feet.
  13. The Leaning Tower of Pisa weighs an estimated 16,200 tons.
  14. There are 296 steps to get to the top of The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
  15. The outer base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (bottom of the tower) has a diameter of 50 feet and 5.6 inches.
  16. The outer base walls of the Leaning Tower of Pisa are 8 feet thick.
  17. The inner base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (top of the tower) has a diameter of 24 feet and 2.1 inches.
  18. The Leaning Tower of Pisa has seven bells and they are L’Assunta, Il Crocifisso, San Ranieri, La Terza, La Pasquereccia, Vespruccio and Dal Pozzo.
  19. Since 1280, the region where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located has been hit by at least four strong earthquakes. The reason why the tower survived is the same reason it’s leaning, the soft soil around and under its foundation.
  20. During the 16th century Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer Galileo Galilei may have used the Leaning Tower of Pisa to prove the law of free fall. It’s said he dropped two cannonballs, both different in weight, from the top.
  21. During World War 2 the Germany Army used the Leaning Tower of Pisa as an observation post. To protect the tower, the U.S. military didn’t order an artillery strike on it.
  22. In 1987, the Tower of Pisa was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  23. In 2008, engineers finished stabilizing the Leaning Tower of Pisa and stopped it from increasing its lean. They believe it should stay stable for a minimum of 200 years.
  24. It’s popular for tourists to take pictures with the Leaning Tower of Pisa and act like they’re pushing it or holding it up.
  25. In Niles, Illinois, USA there is a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it’s called the Leaning Tower of Niles.

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