One of Bologna’s architectural icons, the leaning tower named Garisenda, is set to have its surrounding square, Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, closed off for several years. There are concerns over the 12th-century tower’s tilt.
Bologna’s mayor, Matteo Lepore, said the measure is aimed at safeguarding the Garisenda tower, ensuring its safety, and conducting essential restoration work rather than an immediate threat of collapse. According to Lepore, “We’re not intervening because we think it could collapse at any moment, we’re intervening because we want to make it safe and restore it.”
The 48-meter-high tower, which stands alongside the taller Asinelli tower, has been under scrutiny recently. Scientists from the University of Bologna have detected an abnormal increase in its oscillation. The Garisenda’s tilt is approximately 4 degrees, slightly more than Italy’s renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa at 3.9 degrees. The reason for the lean is likely due to ground subsidence during the 14th century.
The square surrounding the medieval leaning tower is to be closed off for “a few years”, as its lean is a little too precarious.
Read: Italy’s other leaning towers
Monitoring of the tower’s tilt
The monitoring includes the installation of sensors to detect any structural shifts. The tower’s foundations will also be reinforced with new materials to enhance its stability. Concurrently, the Asinelli tower, a popular visitor attraction, has also been temporarily closed for similar safety measures.
The Bologna council is creating a dedicated committee to oversee the restoration project of the Garisenda tower. They are actively seeking professional expertise, both nationally and internationally, to ensure the successful restoration. The tower is an integral part of the city’s identity, and many hope it can remain secure for centuries to come.
The Garisenda and Asinelli towers, each named after rival families, are historic symbols representing power and wealth. Located at the city’s former entrance, the Garisenda tower, initially standing at 60 meters, was reduced in height due to its lean. It features prominently in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy and Le Rime.
