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Scientists have declared that the 900-year-old Garisenda Tower in the Italian city of Bologna is close to collapse. The tower is reported to be leaning four degrees close to the five-degree tilt suffered by the world-famous tower at Pisa.<\/p>\n
Officials in Bologna have closed streets surrounding the tower and sensors have been positioned to track any shifting.<\/p>\n
The root of the 157ft tower’s lean is believed to be weak foundations that will need shoring up with new materials.<\/p>\n
University of Bologna scientists are credited with measuring the tower’s movements which were recorded as a few millimetres.<\/p>\n
Vibrations and strange noises were also recorded coming from inside the ancient tower.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> \u2018Picturesque\u2019 European destination is ideal for British expats<\/strong><\/p>\n Bologna’s Tourist Board said: “Given the cultural relevance of the Garisenda tower, its hypothetical loss would be tragic, not only tourism-wise but for Bologna and Italy\u2019s history as well.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Constructed between 1109 and 1119, Garisenda Tower was financed by one of Bologna’s many rival families.<\/p>\n At one point the Bologna skyline was punctured by as many as 200 towers of various heights.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> The towers were often used as part of the city’s defensive works or to warn of danger.<\/p>\n Many of the city’s towers were demolished during renovation work in the 1920s.<\/p>\n Currently, a small number of the once numerous towers remain dotted around the city.<\/p>\n The Garisenda Tower is one of Bologna’s famous ‘two towers’ the other being the giant Asinelli Tower which is almost 318ft tall.<\/p>\n
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