The Leaning Tower of Pisa for Kids: Famous World Landmarks for Children - FreeSchool

Summary

This video from FreeSchool explores the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Originally intended to stand upright, the tower began leaning during its early construction in 1173 due to unstable ground. Construction was paused multiple times, and the tower wasn’t completed until nearly 200 years later. Over the centuries, its lean worsened, and in 1990 engineers stepped in to stabilize it using innovative techniques. The tower’s tilt was reduced, making it safe for at least another 200 years. Visitors can once again climb the tower and enjoy this iconic architectural wonder.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ Millions of tourists visit Pisa, Italy, to see the famous leaning tower.
• 🏗️ The Leaning Tower of Pisa was originally intended to stand straight as a bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral.
• ⚒️ Construction started in 1173, but the tower began to lean after the second floor was built due to poor soil conditions.
• ⚖️ Builders tried to correct the lean by adding taller columns on one side, which made the problem worse.
• ⏸️ Construction halted for almost a century due to Pisa's war with Genoa, resuming only in 1272 after the ground settled.
• 📐 The design was modified during construction, acknowledging the tilt and adjusting the height of the stories accordingly.
• 🏗️ The tower was completed in 1372 after nearly 200 years, measuring 57 meters at its tallest side.
• 🎢 Over the years, the tower continued to lean more, and by 1990, it was closed for stabilization efforts.
• 🛠️ Engineers reduced the tilt by 17 inches using weights and soil removal, stabilizing the tower for at least 200 more years.
• 🔔 Today, the bells are back, and tourists are allowed to climb the tower once again.

Q & A

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa famous?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is famous because of its distinctive tilt, which makes it a unique architectural landmark.

Was the tower originally designed to lean?

No, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was originally designed to stand straight as a freestanding bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral.

Why did the Leaning Tower of Pisa begin to lean during construction?

The tower began to lean because the ground at the construction site, made of sand, clay, and mud, was too soft to support the weight of the heavy marble structure.

How did the builders initially try to fix the leaning problem?

The builders tried to compensate by making the columns on the lower side taller, but this only worsened the problem by adding extra weight.

Why was construction on the tower stopped after the second floor was built?

Construction was stopped because the problems with the tower's foundation and tilt were too significant to fix immediately, and the architects needed time to find a solution.

Why did construction resume nearly 100 years later?

Construction resumed in 1272 because Pisa had been involved in a war with Genoa, and after a century, the ground had settled enough to better support the tower's weight.

How did the builders try to manage the lean when construction resumed?

The builders tapered the height of each story so that the floors at the top would be flat, knowing that the tower was going to lean.

What was done in 1372 to further address the tower's lean?

In 1372, the eighth story was added, angled northward to balance out the southern lean of the tower.

How did engineers in the 1990s prevent the tower from collapsing?

Engineers in the 1990s added over 800 tons of lead weights to one side, anchored the tower with cables, removed some dirt beneath one side, and removed the bells to lighten the load, reducing the tilt by 17 inches.

How long is the tower expected to remain stable after the 1990s engineering interventions?

Engineers believe that the Leaning Tower of Pisa will remain stable for at least 200 years after the interventions in the 1990s.