The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Yeah! We're finally there! I was starting to feel alittle
sea sick. So let's see how our day went at the, Leaning Tower of Pisa. Get the information on the tower and the coolest pictures. PISA, Italy. Known for its leaning tower and its
art, Pisa is the capital of the province of Pisa. It is situated on the
Arno River in Tuscany, close to the Ligurian Sea.
Pisa is the seat of an academy
of fine arts, an archbishopric, and the University of Pisa. Rich in history,
Pisa has many beautiful architectural landmarks, decorated with intricate
ornamentation. The famous Piazza del Duomo, or Cathedral Square, is in
the northwestern part of the city. In this square are the baptistery, a
circular church building used for baptisms; cathedral, built from 1063
to 1160; and marble bell tower, known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It
is thought that in the cathedral the astronomer Galileo first made the
observation that later became known as the principle of the motion of a
pendulum. The bell tower, which is 179 feet (55 meters) high and 50 feet
(15 meters) wide, was built on unstable ground. It began to tip during
its construction and is now 15 feet (4.6 meters) out of perpendicular.
Other monuments include a cemetery, the Church of Santa Caterina, several
museums, and many libraries. The city suffered considerable damage during
World War II, but its art treasures still attract a large number of tourists
from all over the world.
Because of Pisa's location in the
rich Arno River delta, the majority of workers are engaged in farming.
In recent years much of the surrounding marshy plain has been reclaimed
and settled. Light industries include glass, ceramics, textiles, pharmaceuticals,
and the manufacture of bicycles, railroad equipment, and garments. Pisa
is well served by railways and has an international airport. A canal connects
Pisa with the seaport of Livorno.
A naval base under Roman control,
Pisa became a Roman colony after 180 BC. The town had a Christian bishop
by AD 313. During the Middle Ages it was a powerful Tuscan city-state and
gained prominence as a leading Mediterranean port and as a flourishing
trading center.
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Excerpted from Compton's Interactive
Encyclopedia
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SoftKey Multimedia Inc. All Rights Reserved
