The last person to pass the entrance and reach the summit of the most famous bell tower in the world, was a young military from Caserta on holiday in Pisa: it was the 7th of January of 1990 when, during a live TV broadcast, the doors to the Tower of Pisa closed: "For two, three years of work " they said at the time.

The years ended up being almost twelve, the works more complicated than was expected, but now finally Bonano Pisano's tower is once more "safe". With counterweights in lead and especially with the under-excavation works (that is the removal of earth form under the tower base) the inclination of the bell tower was reduced by about 38 centimetres: "This means - the president of the safeguarding committee, the Engineer Michele Jamiolkowsky explained, - that the tower has been made 200 years younger ".

So the last 15th December the workers of the Opera Primaziale were able to return to giving out tickets. Who knows who the "first" new visitor will be?. It is certain that there were many waiting for that moment, according to the bookings ad information requests the web site of the Primaziale received.

Access was limited, 25-30 people at a time guided by two guardians of the Primaziale: 15 euro (a little less than 30.000 lira) is the cost of the ticket and the visit lasts about half an hour. The summit can be reached, until the handrail above the bell cell whereas, for security reasons, it will no longer be possible to look out of the various loggias.

Works will continue in the meantime because in the next few years the external marbles will have to be completely cleaned up. The building restoration will last five years more and will be carried out by the central institute experts for the restoration of Rome. Works which will, in any case, only partly disturb visitors, since the scaffoldings will take up only one loggia at a time.

So it is all ready: at the base of the bell tower they are fixing the grass carpet around the bell tower; then again retracing the 293 steps of the helicoidal staircase that leads to the summit of one of the most extraordinary monuments of human genius
(Photo by Stefano Scarpellini)

Opera Primaziale
Comune di Pisa