The Leaning Tower of Pisa is so named because of the pronounced four-degree lean that the structure attained during its construction. The tower was leaning long before it was finished, and yet they continued to build it.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa took nearly 200 years to complete. The structure started its planning when the area was bequeathed to the church, and the construction officially started in 1173.
It is said that Galileo Galilei used the tower to test whether objects of different masses fall at the same speed, but this is a claim that was made after his death. It has become a popular part of the mythology.
The general architectural style of the Pisa Tower inside and outside is Romanesque. This particular style was one that would develop over several centuries and can be seen as starting as early as the 6th century.
It was believed, for a long time, that the main architects were Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano, who were residents of the city and artists from that period. However, this has been disputed.
The tower itself is, particularly, the bell tower of the Pisa Cathedral. The architecture of the Pisa Cathedral is similar to that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and it also makes use of a white marble façade.
The lean of the Leaning Tower is an interesting thing, and it’s because of the unstable soil on which the structure was constructed. One side of the tower has more compressible soil than the other side. This then caused the tower to lean.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa may have once served as an actual bell tower, but in recent years, it has become more of an attraction that can gain money for the church and region in general.