The Leaning Tower of Pisa - the most famous bell tower in Italy

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendente) is the bell tower (Campanile) of the cathedral in the Piazza dei Miracoli and one of the most famous landmarks in the world. To climb it, you need a ticket with a specific time slot – on popular days, these sell out early. Here you'll find everything you need for your visit: tickets, rules, steps, the tilt, and the tower's history . For everything about the city itself, see our Pisa travel guide.

Plan your tickets and visit

Official tickets or GetYourGuide?

The cheapest option is to buy tickets directly from the official ticket shop of the Opera della Primaziale Pisana (opapisa.it) . There you select your date and time; tickets are available until the day of your visit, as long as seats are available. If your preferred date is sold out, or if you would like to add a guided tour of the Piazza dei Miracoli, it's worth checking out the tickets and tours for the Leaning Tower on GetYourGuide . They also offer combination tours, such as the tower and the cathedral, or tours in and from Pisa . Be aware that you will likely pay a premium when buying from third-party vendors compared to the official ticket price.

Rules for promotion

• Children who will not turn 8 by the end of the current year are not allowed up. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• The ticket is only valid for the booked day and time. Please arrive 15 minutes early, as you will need to check your bag beforehand.
• Handbags, backpacks and luggage go in the cloakroom; you may take your camera or mobile phone with you.
• The ascent involves climbing 251 steps on a narrow spiral staircase; the floor is uneven and can be slippery. It is not recommended for people with cardiovascular or muscular conditions.
• People with disabilities can enter free of charge with an accompanying person upon prior request via email (at least 5 days in advance) – details at opapisa.it.

Opening hours and best time to visit

The monuments of the Piazza dei Miracoli are open daily. Opening times vary depending on the season: in winter, the tower usually closes in the early evening, while in the height of summer, visits are possible until late in the evening. You can see the current opening times when booking. It's quieter early in the morning and in the evening, once the day-trippers from Florence and the cruise ships in Livorno have left. For information on when a trip to Tuscany is generally worthwhile, see " Best time to travel to Tuscany".

Arrival and accommodation

The Piazza dei Miracoli is located on the northwestern edge of the old town. The nearest train station is the small Pisa San Rossore; from the main train station, Pisa Centrale, it's about a 20-minute walk through the old town. Tips on parking and walking tours can be found in the Pisa travel guide . Those planning to visit the tower in the evening or early morning are advised to stay overnight in the city – accommodations in Pisa can be found on Booking.com.

Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaning?

Construction began in 1173 on soft ground

The foundation stone was laid in August 1173. Even during the construction of the third story, around 1185, the tower began to lean: the foundation, only about three meters deep, rests on soft subsoil of sand, loam, and clay, which gave way under the weight of approximately 14.500 tons of marble. Wars with Genoa and Florence caused construction to cease for almost a hundred years – this gave the ground time to settle and likely saved the tower from collapse.

Completion after almost 200 years

From 1272 onwards, Giovanni di Simone continued construction. He attempted to compensate for the tilt by making the upper stories on the lower side slightly higher – this is why the tower appears slightly curved. Finally, in 1372, the bell chamber, attributed to Tommaso Pisano, was added. Today, it houses seven bells, one for each note of the scale.

Closure in 1990 and rescue until 2001

Because the tilt continued to increase, the tower was closed to visitors on January 7, 1990. Engineers initially secured it with steel bands and lead weights at its base, and from 1999 onward, they selectively removed soil from the north side beneath the foundation. This caused the taller side to settle slightly, reducing the tilt from approximately 5,5 degrees to around 4 degrees. Visitors have been able to climb the tower again since December 15, 2001; experts estimate it will remain stable for at least another 200 years.

The Tower in Numbers

feature	Value
start of building	1173
Completion of the bell tower	1372
Height	approx. 56 m
Diameter at the base	approx. 15,5 m (outside, at the base)
Weight	about 14.500 t
Tilt	approx. 4 degrees (approx. 5,5 degrees before the renovation)
Steps to the top	251
Bells	7

The tower is round, not square like many bell towers in central Italy, and, like the cathedral, is clad in white marble. Six open colonnades surround the middle floors. Incidentally, Galileo Galilei's famous fall from the tower is a legend – it has no factual basis, even though Galileo was born and taught in Pisa.

Cathedral, baptistery and camposanto

The tower is part of the Piazza del Duomo ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta was consecrated in 1118; next to it stand the Baptistery and the Camposanto, the monumental cemetery. The Cathedral is freely accessible, but you will need a free timed ticket; combination tickets for the Baptistery, Camposanto, and museums are available at opapisa.it. As is typical for Italy, the campanile stands freely next to the church – just like in Florence . The marble comes from the quarries near Carrara ; Lucca, with its walkable city walls, also makes a lovely day trip from Pisa .

Frequently asked questions about the Leaning Tower of Pisa