Pisa
Pisa
For much of Middle Ages, Pisa’s powerful navy ensured its dominance of western Mediterranean. Trading links with Spain and North Africa in the 12th century brought vast mercantile wealth and formed the basis of scientific and Cultural Revolution that is still reflected in Pisa’s splendid buildings. In 1284 Pisa’s decline began with its defeat by Genoa, and was hastened by the slitting up of the harbor. The city fell to the Florentines in 1406, but suffered its worst crisis in 1944 when it fell victim of Allied bombing.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Begun in 1173 on sandy slit subsoil, the Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente) started to tilt even before the third storey was finished in 1274. Despite the shallow foundations, construction continued and the structure was finished in 1350. The towers apparent flouting of laws of gravity has attracted many visitors over the centuries including the Pisan scientists Galileo, who climbed to the top to conduct his experiments on the velocity of falling objects. After recent engineering interventions that decreased the lean by 38cm (14in) the tower is once again safe and open to public.