Leaning Tower – Pisa, Italy
This UNESCO World Heritage site ‘Piazza del Duomo di Pisa’ represent a single design concept of a dialogue between heaven and earth. They also are a style developed in maritime Pisa resulting from the encounter of different people, cultures, and languages.
View of the tower from just outside the city wall. There is already a perceptible lean to it, especially when compared with the straight lines of the Duomo that is partially obscuring the view of the tower.
A little bit closer from the field of miracles, the power is, indeed, leaning away from the Duomo, as if the say that it needs its own space to occupy.
From inside view upwards through the central core of the tower. Row after row of curved masonry point towards the slight dome covering the opening and the light filled opening created by the columns beneath it.
While heading up one of the details we noticed were the height of the bases of some columns varying from those around it. There also appears to be some monitoring equipment near this base that might be the reason for the variation.
We felt a sense of accomplishment after climbing the many steps to reach the top. From here we walked around the perimeter and had a good look at Pisa.
The finest view architecturally was of the dome over the transept of the Duomo, with its distinctive alternating colored stone coursing, and the baptistry in the distance.
The capital of each column was slightly different, with some more elaborately carved than others.
This is one of the bells mounted atop the tower.
Probably the most satisfying view from the top, architecturally speaking, was looking up. The beautifully set arch with alternating colored stones, elaborate moldings along the curve of the arch and transitioning between the arch and tower, and the elaborate heavy cornice at the top with columns and capitals, mutule blocks, and dentils on the outermost edge. At close distances these are a delight to see in all of their detail, from longer distances including on the ground, they give the tower much of its dignity and character by making sure every surface and every square inch is carefully shaped and molded to create a very specific visual effect.
Going back down to earth, we had a newfound appreciation for the details which make the Leaning Tower of Pisa a global icon.