1. Leaning Tower of Pisa – Pisa, Italy
Let’s start with the most famous one – the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, which stands about 58 meters tall and leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees. It took 200 years to build, with the foundations laid in 1173, and construction was delayed due to wars Pisa fought with Genoa, Lucca, and Florence. During this time, the ground stabilized, and in an attempt to balance the tower, the upper floors were built with one side higher than the other. This is why the building appears slightly curved beyond its lean.
The tower’s tilt was caused by an architectural error, as the ground it was built on is unsuitable for tall structures like it. Between 1990 and 2008, several restoration efforts reduced its tilt, which was increasing by 1.2 mm per year, and it’s now estimated that it will return to the level it was at in 1992 only in 300 years.
2. Oberkirch – Bad Frankenhausen, Germany
This tower was built in 1382 in the Gothic style and stands about 56 meters tall. It leans at an angle of 4.93 degrees – more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa – because the soil it was built on contains salts that have shifted and solidified over time. The church the tower belongs to has survived wars, fires, and looting, and it served as a prison camp during Napoleon’s invasion in 1806 and even as an arsenal warehouse for the Nazis during World War II. At the rate the tower is leaning, experts estimate it will collapse by 2092.
3. Suyumbike Tower – Kazan, Russia
This tower stands about 57 meters tall, and no one knows exactly when it was built, though some experts estimate it was constructed in the early 17th century. Others speculate it was built in the 18th century, during a period when such tiered designs were very common. It resembles a wedding cake and is named after Queen Suyumbike, who, according to legend, jumped to her death from the top of the tower. Originally built as a military watchtower, it is now considered a symbol of Tatar heritage in the region.
4. Kilmacduagh Round Tower – Kilmacduagh, Ireland
This is one of the oldest leaning towers in the world, built in the 7th century as part of a monastery. Being so ancient, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact year of its construction, but we do know it has been heavily damaged since then, repaired, and served as a bell tower and even a refuge during Viking invasions. It is a completely round tower, like many others in Ireland, and it leans due to the wet, marshy soil surrounding it. With several centuries behind it, it’s fair to say it has withstood the test of time.
5. Tiger Hill Pagoda – Suzhou, China
This is not just a leaning tower, but the oldest and largest pagoda south of the Yangtze River. Some call it “China’s Leaning Tower” due to its noticeable tilt – 3 degrees. It was built in 327, and since then, it has been damaged and repaired multiple times, with the latest repairs done in 1871.
As you might expect, this tower has survived many wars, standing about 46 meters tall and built in multiple octagonal layers. The tower was constructed on ground that is half rocky and half soil, so the foundations supporting it were essentially at risk from the day it was built. Until 2010, it was possible to climb it, but that is no longer an option.
6. Leaning Tower of St. Moritz – St. Moritz, Switzerland
This tower is the last remaining remnant of the St. Moritz church, built in the 13th century. It is located in the heart of the city, considered one of the most popular ski resort destinations in the world, and since it is situated on a mountainside, the ground beneath it has been naturally and continuously shifting for the past 800 years.
The tower was once surrounded by a series of church buildings and other historical structures, all built in the Romanesque style popular at the time. However, as the ground slowly shifted, all but the tower were deliberately demolished for safety reasons. Thanks to the expertise of Swiss engineers, this tower, standing about 32 meters tall, has survived to this day.
7. Oude Kerk – Delft, Netherlands
The city of Delft is primarily known for its pottery, but it is also home to one of the most sharply leaning towers in Europe. Oude Kerk was built in the Gothic style in 1246, standing about 74 meters tall and leaning about 2 meters from the original position of its top.
In the past, it was the tallest structure in the city, and while many buildings in Delft began to lean over centuries since their construction, this tower started leaning even before its completion. Its angle gradually increased after fires, harsh weather conditions, and an explosion at a gunpowder shop in the city in 1654. It now appears like an optical illusion in Delft’s landscape.
8. Towers of Bologna – Bologna, Italy
Bologna’s skyline is characterized by two towers at its center – Asinelli and Garisenda – which serve as landmarks of the city. They were built between 1109 and 1119, at the point where the main road entered the city. The Asinelli Tower is the taller of the two, standing nearly 100 meters tall, while Garisenda reaches about 46 meters.
However, both towers were originally built to the same height, but Garisenda was shortened due to the dangerous angle at which it leaned, and its upper part was demolished in the 14th century. Until 2023, tourists could climb to the top of the taller Asinelli Tower, from where they could see a stunning view of the city and its surroundings.
