On the Western Edge of the Tuscan Region, where the Arno flows into the Ligurian Sea, you will find Pisa.
Pisa has been well known since it first started as a seaport village. It has been home to the powerful Medici clan. It is where Galileo Galilei was born and conducted experiments in gravity. More recently, Andrea Bocelli was born there.Of course, it's most famous icon is a crooked building.
The tower (not the most crooked in the world, by the way) is open to the public. I knew it had been closed because they wanted to stabilize it, but I didn't realize they'd succeeded. Congratulations to the engineers who accoplished that over decades of work!
The 20th century repairs to get this belltower to stop tipping over have continued into the 21st. In fact, in May of 2008, the engineers (who had removed 70 metric tons of dirt from under it to stabilize it and try to bring it at least a little more into shim) said that it had finally stopped moving for the first time in its history. 
Anyone want to climb up and ring the bell?
Why is this tower so important? Why keep it up? Is it because it is a tourist attraction, or is there a more sacred value attached to it. It seems if I was known to the world mainly for a mistake, I would seek to correct that mistake. Maybe Pisa has good self-esteem.
ReplyDeleteLeaning tower is the belltower to the church (right next to it). It has been a city landmark just about since it started being built, which was why they finished building it even though they knew it was going all tippy pretty much from the getgo. (It ain't called the Piaza de Miracoli for nothin'.) It's a world heritage site now, so we HAVE to keep it up. It is a tourist attraction (I'd go see it and even climb the steps just to say I did!), but it's also a major city identity thing plus a sacred spot what with being the belltower of the church and all--you don't go around tearing down parts of churches all willy-nilly.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Pisa has EXCELLENT self-esteem. Ever hear of Cosimo d'Medici or nephew Lorenzo? Yeah, lack of hubris was never a conspicuous personality trait in that clan. :)
I just like it because it is the leaning tower of pizza - and who doesn't like pizza - although, when it leans - and all of the cheese and toppings slide to one side - one half of the partakers are more than mildly disappointed.
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