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Saturday, October 28, 2023

City of Bologna Takes Action to Stabilize Iconic Leaning Garisenda Tower

 The recent discovery of the structure of the Garisenda tower in Bologna has important implications for the city and its citizens.

Asinelli and Garisenda towers, Bologna, Italy
Oct 19, 2023
Summary

The Garisenda tower is one of Bologna's two leaning towers, along with the Asinelli tower. It has been leaning since it was built in the 12th century, and its tilt has gradually increased over time. In recent years, concerns have grown about the stability of the tower, and it has been closed to the public.

In 2023, a team of scientists conducted a detailed study of the tower's structure. They used a variety of methods, including laser scanning and ground penetrating radar, to create a 3D model of the tower's interior. This model revealed that the tower's foundations are unstable, and that the tower is at risk of collapse.

Actions the city will take

The city of Bologna is taking a number of actions to address the safety concerns posed by the Garisenda tower. These actions include:

  • Continuing to monitor the tower's movement.
  • Carrying out further studies to better understand the tower's structure and the factors that are contributing to its instability.
  • Developing a plan to stabilize the tower and prevent it from collapsing.

Implications for citizens

The closure of the Garisenda tower is a significant loss for the city of Bologna. The tower is a popular tourist attraction, and it is also an important part of the city's history and culture.

The closure of the tower also has implications for the businesses and residents in the surrounding area. The tower is located in a central part of the city, and its closure has disrupted traffic and pedestrian flow.

According to BolognaToday, the people of Bologna have been used to taking the bus to Piazza Maggiore for decades, now this will no longer be possible for those coming from Via San Vitale." Mayor Matteo Lepore was lapidary as he and his council have been busy monitoring the Garisenda Tower in recent weeks, after the alarm raised by the sensors installed in the area and the decision to make the area pedestrian for several years.


"It can be pedestrianized under the two towers. I believe it is also a dream - he told reporters yesterday - if we had had to plan it, we would have done it in very different times, now we had to do it, and not, I repeat, for the passage of buses, but because the container of the tower takes up Via San Vitale", said the mayor on the sidelines of the press conference on the subject, also announcing that the stretch of Via San Vitale towards Porta Ravegnana "will be pedestrianized for the next few years

Other related issues or facts

The recent discovery of the structure of the Garisenda tower has raised concerns about the safety of other leaning towers in Italy. There are dozens of leaning towers in Italy, and some of them are thought to be at risk of collapse.

The Italian government is taking steps to address the safety concerns posed by leaning towers. These steps include:

  • Conducting surveys to identify leaning towers that are at risk of collapse.
  • Developing plans to stabilize these towers and prevent them from collapsing.
  • Raising public awareness about the dangers of leaning towers.

The discovery of the structure of the Garisenda tower is a reminder that we must be vigilant in protecting our cultural heritage. We must also be mindful of the risks posed by aging infrastructure, and we must take steps to mitigate these risks.


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