Did you know…that the “Leaning Tower of Pisa” is not the only significant building on the site??!  In fact, the bell tower (or Campanile) is just one part of a whole Pisa complex which also includes a huge Duomo (cathedral), separate Baptistery, and impressive Camposanto (cemetery).  The tower began to lean even before it was finished due to sandy silt subsoil, defying the laws of gravity for centuries and with millions of visitors climbing its worn and “leaning” marble stairs to the top before it was stabilized during the end of the 20^th century and a brief period of No Visitors.

Pisa was one of the ports on our [cancelled, sigh] Mediterranean cruise and I was excited to approach the complex from the Mediterranean Sea. (Take a look to the lower left on the aerial photo of the complex to the building with the round dome: the Baptistery. Notice that the roof is ½ red tiles (finished) and the other ½ is gray (unfinished)? The story is told that the builders ran out of funds and that only ½ could be completed. They only finished the side that faced the sea so as it impress those coming into the city by ship—as we would be doing this time!