Area around Bologna’s Garisenda Tower is closed after scientists detect unusual movement in the stonework
- The 900-year old tower has a lean of four degrees – just short of the tower of Pisa
- Scientists say that noises recorded in the tower will give a warning of collapse
By WILIAM HUNTER for Mail Online – It might not be Italy‘s most famous leaning tower, but the Garisenda Tower has now got the whole country’s attention as scientists find it is at risk of collapsing.
Scientists from the University of Bologna have been using ultra-sensitive microphones to pick up any cracking sounds in the tower.
Now, the streets surrounding Bologna’s 900-year-old tower have been closed after the sensors picked up unusual shifts in the stonework.
Standing at 157ft tall, the Garisenda Tower has a lean of four degrees – just shy of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa’s five degree tilt.
Experts suggest that the tower’s weak foundations may be subsiding, requiring an injection of filler material to add more stability.
A representative of Bologna’s Tourist Board said that the scientists detected abnormal noise, oscillations, vibrations, and movements of a few millimetres within the tower.
They add that the traffic restrictions will allow the detection equipment to make more accurate recordings before sending specialists to climb the tower to make more accurate measurements.
‘Given the cultural relevance of the Garisenda tower, its hypothetical loss would be tragic, not only tourism-wise but for Bologna and Italy’s history as well,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Fortunately the signals detected so far do not lead us to believe that the tower may collapse, the situation is under control and a team of experts are taking care of it properly.’
Italian Culture Undersecretary, Lucia Borgonzoni, said that the situation was concerning and appeared to blame the city council for allowing the danger to develop.
‘Perhaps there has been an underestimation of the situation by the municipal scientific committee that is in charge of the tower’s conservation,’ Ms Borgonzoni said in an interview with Quotidiano Nazionale.
