The Leaning Tower of Pisa Wasn’t Supposed to Lean

An engineering screw-up became the symbol of the city of Pisa.

By Donna Sarkar
Mar 13, 2021 9:00 PM
Leaning Tower of Pisa
(Credit: f11photo/Shutterstock)

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Italy’s iconic symbol that attracts thousands of tourists a year was the result of an engineering screw-up. Yes, you read that right. The architects of the Leaning Tower of Pisa didn’t want the building to lean. Yet the accidental tilt ultimately launched the building into fame, even classifying the structure as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Mystery Behind the Tilt

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