I have always been fascinated by the Leaning Tower of Piza & have always wanted to go there. Recently more of my friends have visited it & after seeing their photos I have put it on my bucket list as a place I want to go to before I die.

The Leaning Tower of Piza.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The height of the tower is 183 feet 3 inches from the ground on the low side and 185 ft 11 in on the high side. Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes. The tower has 296 or 294 steps, the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase.

The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight. It worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. The structure was stabilized by remedial work between 1993 & 2001, which reduced the tilt to 3.97 degrees.

I hope that I may be able to go to Piza if I can get a cruise that visits Livorno. This would be my ideal way to go & see the Leaning Tower of Piza & hopefully make the climb up its steps.