LEANING TOWER OF PISA

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This document provides information about the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. The tower is part of a larger architectural complex that includes a cathedral, a baptistery, and a cemetery. It is known for its beauty and unique mechanics of equilibrium. The tower was built in the 12th century and has a freestanding cylinder structure with eight tiers of arched arcades. Inside the tower is a spiral staircase that leads to the top, where Galileo conducted experiments. The tower began to lean toward the south during construction due to an uneven settling of the ground. There has been controversy over the tower's height and the amount of its tilt, but it is generally agreed that it is 179 feet high on the northern side and deviates nearly 17 feet from the vertical.

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 Approved For Release 2000/08/11': CIA-RDP96-00792,RO00700450001-1
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 The Leaning Tower of Pisa
 Also  known                 as  the  Campile  or
 the Bell Tower of a cathedral of Pisa in Tuscany,  Italy.   it is
 part  of  a  fine  architectural complex    that  includes the
 cathedral, a baptistery and an enclosed composanto or cemetery,
 all  sheathed  in white marble  and archaded  in Pisan-Romanesque
 style.   The tower near the east end of the church is unusual
 for  both its beauty and  for   its mechanics of  equilibrium.   A
 freestanding cylinder,  it consists of  8  tiers of round   arched
 archades. A spiral  staircase  ascends  to   the  interior.   From
 the  top of the tower Galileo    is said to have conducted his
 experiments in physics with fallin
 The tower g objects.
 was begun in 1174 by
 an unknown architect.   The bell tower at the top was completed
 about 1350.   During construction, an uneven settling of ground
 caused  the building  which  had  a  foundation  too  shallow  to
 support its weight,  to lean toward the south.   Its deviation
 was  accidental  rather  than  intentional   as  some  scholars
 thought.  Other  towers  in  the city  are  similarly  though  less
 strikingly affected.
 Through  the  years  there  has
 been much   controversy over  the  height  of  the  tower and  the
 amount of its tilt.      It is now generally agreed that the   tower
 is 179 feet high on the northern side and it deviates nearly 17
 ft from the vertical.
 Approved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792ROO0700450001-1