The short answer to this question is: NO, the Tower will not collapse in the current circumstances.
The Leaning Tower has been leaning since its construction in the 12th century and, from the beginning, measures have been taken to avoid a possible collapse.
If you watch the monument closely, you will notice that it's not perfectly straight and it's slightly curved!
That's because its shape was actually changed during its construction so that it would not fall...
The efforts to keep the tower up have never stopped.
Still today, the Italian government is taking measures to ensure the safety of the Tower and of the many visitors who come to admire it every year.
Did the leaning Tower of Pisa fall?
No, the building that we see today is the original one and it has never fallen down!
When we visit it, we are then literally walking on history and tracing the steps of thousands of people before us, as the building is now 850 years old.
That said, the Tower has gone very close to collapsing once already.
Scientists have asked themselves the very important question: at what angle will the leaning Tower of Pisa fall?
According to their answer, the Tower is safe if the leaning angle doesn’t get over 5.44 degrees, but, during the XX century, the Tower reached the dangerous leaning angle of 5.5 degrees.
Because of this, the risk of the monument actually falling was very high, but it was possible to avoid its collapse.
Thanks to more than twenty years of stabilization works, the Tower has been straightened, bringing its tilt to a safe 3.97 degrees.
Engineers have stabilized the Tower by removing soil from under one side and adding weights to the other.
They have also made other renovations to the Tower to ensure its long-term stability.
So, while there are always risks and unforeseen events that could cause the Tower to fall, it is unlikely that it will fall in the near future.
If you are curious about why the Tower is still up and has never fallen and want to learn more about this topic, read our article WHY the Leaning Tower of Pisa does not Fall?
What would cause the leaning Tower of Pisa to fall?
That said, there are still some exceptional cases where the monument may fall.
These possible scenarios include:
- Natural disasters.
Although it has survived many earthquakes over the years, a particularly strong earthquake could potentially cause the Tower to collapse. - Ground shifts.
The Tower's lean is caused by the soil underneath it being softer on one side than the other. If the ground were to shift significantly and suddenly due to geological activity or other factors, it could potentially cause the building to fall. - Human activity.
While measures have been taken to prevent this, it is still possible that human activity could cause the Tower to collapse. For example, a large explosion or terrorist attack could potentially damage it enough to make it fall.
Even though the Tower changes its tilt and sinks slowly, were it to fall, it would likely happen all at once.
If one of its levels or the ground soil were to fail, all the rest of the Tower would follow and collapse in a domino effect.
It's worth noting that while these scenarios are possible, they are also unlikely as the Tower is regularly monitored and maintained by engineers to ensure its stability.
Is it safe to climb the leaning Tower of Pisa?
While there is always some risk associated with climbing any structure, it is generally considered safe to climb the leaning Tower of Pisa.
The safety of the visitors to the Tower is of the utmost importance to the Italian government, and because of that, several restrictions are in place.
Some have to do with the stability of the Tower itself, while others have to do with other characteristics of the Tower, like cramped spaces and slippery floors, that may be hazardous for some visitors.
For example, the number of visitors allowed to climb it at any time is limited, and entrance is allowed in batches every 15 minutes.
Additionally, visitors are not allowed to take backpacks and big bags inside the Tower, and dogs are not allowed with the exception of service dogs.
Tourists must also be ready to climb many steps!
Because of this, and other safety concerns, visiting the Tower is also not recommended to people with health conditions that may prevent a safe climb, and children under 8 years old cannot enter it at all.
If you want to know how many steps you will climb, head to the article HOW many steps are in the Leaning Tower of Pisa?.
To ensure your safety and the safety of your fellow visitors and of the building itself, if you do decide to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it's important to follow all safety guidelines and listen to any instructions from staff or officials.
In conclusion, the Tower is safe to visit, and you should not worry about it collapsing during your visit, as if there were ever any concerns about safety, appropriate action to address them would be taken, and the Tower would be closed.
