With a steeper slope than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the historic Garisenda Tower is at risk of collapse. Consolidation works have already begun, but the challenge of preserving one of the city’s icons is still far from being overcome.
The Garisenda and Asinelli towers are icons of Bologna and have attracted tourists for centuries. Built in the Middle Ages, they were built as a sign of power and wealth by the region’s wealthiest families.
“The taller the tower, the richer and more powerful the associated family.”
Bologna once had around 100 towers, but today only a few remain. The inclination of Garisenda, currently 4 degrees, is 0.1 degrees greater than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Italian government is investing millions of euros to avoid collapse. Engineer Rafaella Bruni, responsible for the project, explains that the intervention follows a model already tested in Pisa.
“We used the same structures that were used in Pisa to consolidate the tower. First we reinforced the foundation, then we installed pillars and cables to relieve the pressure on the base. Despite the works, the tower will not remain straight. It will simply be reinforced in its inclined position. Thus, it will continue to be the symbol of our city for 200, 300, 400 years.”
This project is just one of many efforts in Italy to preserve heritage with centuries of history. The Garisenda, almost a millennium old, is today an example of the fragility of these monuments and the Italian determination to keep them standing.
