Works on Italy’s Medieval Tower Estimated to Last for 10 Years

Situated in the heart of Bologna, a town in Italy is a leaning tower that has existed for over a hundred years. Despite its historical and cultural relevance, there are fears of collapse among the natives of the town. This has necessitated reconstruction works on the ancient Garisenda tower that has served the Bologna town as a precious landmark.

The medieval tower dates back to the 12th century and measures 48 metres as it stands next to Asinelli Tower which measures 97 metres. The towers’ construction is said to have been a competition between two families to see who could build a taller one between 1109 and 1119.

According to a report by the ANSA News Agency, the Mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore during a press conference at the Bologna city hall shared that the town would spend €20 million and will take ten years at least to complete.

“I think we will spend no less than 20 million euros, maybe more. …For the Tower of Pisa, it took 10 years for the intervention and the (restoration) project. We have no reason to say it will take us less,” he added.

The Civil Protection Agency in Italy has issued a yellow alert for the area around the Garisenda and Asinelli towers saying they pose no immediate safety risks to residents but are still under its watch.

The two towers are featured in an eponymous poem by the Italian poet, Giosuè Carducci as part of the Barbarian Odes. The Garisenda tower was cited several times by Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy and The Rime.