Leaning Tower of Pisa

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Grand Mediterranean Odyssey & Black Sea Take a Grand Tour with a twist. As well as the chance to lean towards the Tower of Pisa or uncover the magic of Pompeii, Italy's greatest cities are joined by Sicilian Taormina and Croatian Zadar in 40 days. 40 days, from £4898 (Cruise). Voyages of Discovery »

With little practical purpose besides housing bells and showing off to their fierce rivals in Florence, it is ironic that Pisa's famous tower leans. Having started leaning at only 3 storeys high, the tower has drawn much debate as to its reluctance to stand to attention. Cries that the architect had one leg shorter than the other fell on deaf ears. There are 8 segments, comprised of the base, six arcades and a belfry. The arches have rhomboid decorations underneath, inlaid with coloured marbles, each containing a rosette in relief at the centre. At the sides of the portal there are friezes with decorations showing animals and imaginary beasts. The belfry is accessed via a narrow spiral staircase, and in turn allows access to the summit of the tower by way of a stair cut into the wall.

3 / 5 Review by contributing editor George Monkhouse

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 Photo by flickr user Argenberg

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