Original photo by hungry_herbivore/ Adobe Stock
Between the 13th and 20th centuries, the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s tilt increased from around 0.2 degrees north to 5.5 degrees degrees south — 5.7 degrees of movement in total. But since the 1990s, that incline has reverted roughly 1.5 degrees back toward center, thanks to a project meant to stabilize the landmark and prevent its potential collapse. The engineering operation was launched in 1990, marking the third attempt at straightening the tower. Two prior efforts were made in 1838 and 1934, but the failure of those attempts actually added to the precarious incline. But the third time, not only did engineers succeed, but the tower also continued to straighten afterward.
The stabilization process involved installing counterweights on the tower’s north side so the structure would tilt back toward an upright position. Engineers also extracted soil from the higher side of the foundation and used steel cables to pull the building upright. By 2001, the incline was reduced by 15 inches and measured around 4 degrees — less than the first recorded measurement from 1817 of 4.9 degrees. Engineers considered the project a success, and a 2005 assessment declared the tower safe for the next 300 years.
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It's a factWith 60 sites in total — one more than China — Italy has more entries on the UNESCO World Heritage List than any other nation. This includes Rome’s historic city center, Mount Etna, and prehistoric rock drawings in Valcamonica, just to name a few.
But even though the stabilization project itself ended in 2001, the tower continued to lean toward a more upright position due to the unstable soil underneath. By 2018, the landmark had straightened an additional 1.6 inches, according to a study conducted by an Italian preservation organization. Researchers at Stuttgart University believe the tower will continue to straighten, though the landmark will likely start to lean back toward the south over time due to its weak foundation. While a precise timeline is hard to pinpoint, some engineers estimate the tower will remain stable for at least 200 years, but additional stabilization work may be required thereafter.
Numbers Don't Lie
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The world’s oldest film festival takes place in ______.
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The world’s oldest film festival takes place in Venice, Italy.
Napoleon once crowned himself king of Italy.
In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte — then serving as first consul of the French Republic — was persuaded to serve as president of the newly formed Italian Republic. But on May 17, 1805, Napoleon proclaimed the republic to be a new kingdom under the dominion of his Napoleonic empire.
Subsequently, fewer than six months after being crowned French emperor, Napoleon declared himself king of Italy at a coronation ceremony in Milan on May 26, 1805. After nearly nine years, Napoleon’s reign came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Fontainebleau on April 11, 1814. As per the conditions, he abdicated the Italian and French thrones and was banished to Elba.
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Optimism Media, and previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers." Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
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