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A medieval tower in the Italian city of Bologna – which leans as much as its famous counterpart in Pisa – has been cordoned off due to the risk of it collapsing, the BBC reports.
The authorities have now started building a five meter high barrier around the 47 meter high tower to protect people and buildings should it fall.
The Tower of Garisenda is a famous landmark in Bologna along with a second preserved tower from the Middle Ages. The second tower, the Asinelli, is about twice as tall and also leans, but not as sharply. The towers were built between 1109 and 1119, but the height of Garisenda was reduced in the 14th century when it began to lean.
In October this year, changes in the tower’s tilt were detected using sensors, and the inspections then revealed a deterioration in the building’s foundation.
The situation is critical, according to the authorities, who are now planning how to save the tower. The project is described as an “extraordinary challenge” that requires “commitment from the whole city and from everyone around the world who loves Bologna and one of its most significant symbols”.
The restoration is expected to be a long and expensive story – the city estimates that the barrier alone will cost the equivalent of close to SEK 50 million. A collection has therefore been started where residents and tourists can help contribute.