Today
The Leaning Tower of Pisa remains an iconic
architectural landmark and a true feat of medieval
engineering. Though more famous for its tilt, the
true wonder of the tower is that it still stands after
800 years.
In 1987, the entire Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral
Square) – also known as Piazza Dei Miracoli (Field
of Miracles) – including the tower as well as, the
Cathedral, and baptistery was declared a Unesco
World Heritage Site. This was an acknowledgement
of the unique nature of the site and its importance
as one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions.
Architects
The identity of the Tower of Pisa's first architect remains a mystery.
For many years, the initial phase of the design work was attributed
to Bonanno Pisano, a well-known 12th-century resident artist of Pisa.
However, recent studies appear to indicate that an architect named
Diotisalvi, who designed the baptistery, was also responsible for the
tower.
The second phase of construction is attributed to Giovani di Simone,
who added four floors to the tower in 1275. Architect Tommaso di
Andrea Pisano (1350-1372) was the architect who finished the work and
succeeded in harmonizing the Gothic elements of the bell-chamber with
the Romanesque style of the tower.
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