There has been controversy about the real identity of the architect of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. For many years, the design was attributed to Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano [3], a well-known 12th-Century resident artist of Pisa, famous for his bronze casting, particularly in the Pisa Duomo. Bonanno Pisano left Pisa in 1185 for Monreale, Sicily, only to come back and die in his home town. His sarcophagus was discovered at the foot of the tower in 1820. However recent studies seems to indicate Diotisalvi as the original architect, by construction affinities with his other works, like the Baptistery in Pisa.

Dear abhishek s:

We haven’t the slightest idea. To this day, the primary architect behind the world’s most famously defective tourist attraction remains unknown. A dissertation in our Leaning Tower of Pisa category offers several possible suspects, all of whom were famous Italian architects at the time: Bonanno, Deotiusalvi, Gerardo, Guidolotto.

The tower is often associated with Galileo, because of the fabled illustration of his theories on gravity: the young Galileo leaning over the balcony, the differently weighted cannon balls, their synchronous fall through the air. But while the great man did conduct some experiments on gravity in Pisa during the 16th century, he never conducted that one.

This wonderfully erratic timeline of events details the tumultuous history of the listing monolith in question. Construction started in 1173, then stops 5 years later (some trouble with the foundation, perhaps?), then recommences 100 years later, then stops after 6 years, and on and on. Why does the tower tilt? It’s built on especially sandy soil, which has settled unevenly over the years.

A lot of effort has gone into straightening the tower, including an ill-advised drilling technique in 1934 that only exacerbated the problem. As it stands today, scientists and engineers are slowly but surely righting the structure to a stable angle. The aim isn’t to straighten it (what’s the Leaning Tower of Pisa without its lean?), but to stop it from tumbling over.

It was actually constructed over a long period of time by different people. Construction first began on August 9th, 1173, and the last bell in the tower was installed in 1655.

The design was done by Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano (this is controversial; recent studies indicate that the design might have been done by Diotisalvi).

The tower began to sink in 1178 (explaining its tilt that we all see today).

Giovanni di Simone continued construction in 1272 and tried to adjust for the tilt (which gives the tower a curvy look now).

Tommaso di Andrea Pisano added the bell chamber in 1372 (the largest bell was installed in 1655).

“…several possible suspects, all of whom were famous Italian architects at the time: Bonanno, Deotiusalvi, Gerardo, Guidolotto, etc.

The tower is often associated with Galileo, because of the fabled illustration of his theories on gravity: the young Galileo leaning over the balcony, the differently weighted cannon balls, their synchronous fall through the air. But while the great man did conduct some experiments on gravity in Pisa during the 16th century, he never conducted that one. ”

EDIT: Hey not_a_geek, cite your sources! >_<

Italians cause that’s where pizza came from.

I guess I do not know. But I do like pizza.

some crosseyed Italians

the noid

Not me

uhu….donno bro….