Leaning Tower of Pisa Canvas Print

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a bell tower that was constructed of marble and stone. Construction began in 1173 and was completed in 1372. The arcihtect was Bonanno Pisano.

It is approximately 183 feet tall. It weighs approximately 16,000 tons, thus creating the problem of it being so heavy that the soft ground could not sustain it. It began leaning already in the 12th century and worsened upon completion in the 14th century. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. So between 1993 and 2001, through a joint effort to stabilize the tower, the tilt was reduced to 3.97 degrees. Pisa did not want it to be made completely straight because it would lose its historical significance and tourists wouldn’t flock to the site. The tower was closed for almost a decade while stabilization took place. It has now been declared stable for at least another 200 years.

Surface restoration has taken place since stabilization was completed, as the majority of the tower is marble and s...

My memories begin as a five-year-old-free-spirit discovering and creating anything 'beautiful.' I was bold, creative, curious, and loved adventure. It stands to reason that when I spray painted the neighbor's black hearse a sparkling shade of silver that I was destined to be an artist. Now that I'm in my 7th decade, my free spirit has settled down a bit (the hearse owner would be glad). Still, curiosity, creativity, and an eye for beauty define me. Lots of things inspire me in my art. I love traveling, and have been afforded the opportunity to see wonderful places all over the world. I then share our travel destinations with others so they can experience the beauty out there too. Another passion of mine is ornamental gardening. Flowers...