A historic landmark in Bologna, Italy is currently closed to the public as the city fears it could collapse.
Known as one of the city’s two towers, the Garisenda Tower is at risk of collapse due to the deterioration of the materials at the base of its structure, according to the official website of the Comune di Bologna. The 158-foot-tall tower stands next to the Asinelli Tower, which is nearly twice as tall at 318 feet and offers sweeping views of the city from the top.
Both towers are closed to the public as the Garisenda tower is being rebuilt in an effort to prevent a possible collapse, while the Asinelli tower is closed for maintenance.
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The historic towers stand tall on Bologna’s skyline.
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According to CNN, an investigation in October confirmed that the stone used for the base is crumbling and the bricks above have cracks that are spreading.
The outlet previously reported that the site has been monitored since 2018, and in October the city installed acoustic sensors to record noise from cracks and creaks. A pendulum to monitor the movement was also installed in the Garisenda and Asinelli towers.
Compared to Italy’s other famous Leaning Tower, in Pisa, which leans at an angle of five degrees, the Garisenda Tower currently leans four degrees.
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On Friday, city officials announced that the Garisenda tower renovation project will cost about $4.7 million, and maintenance will continue through February, according to the Associated Press.
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Both towers were built between 1109 and 1119, and were named after the families that lived in the city at that time. During the Middle Ages, families wanted to build the highest towers in the city to show their social status and wealth, according to the official website of the tourist area of Bologna-Modena.
The Asinelli Tower has a total of 498 steps leading to the top. Meanwhile, the Garisenda Tower was once higher, but had to be lowered in the 14th century for fear of collapsing. Its steepness was so great that Dante Alighieri wrote about it in his famous poem “Inferno”, which was completed in the early 1300s.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education