A leaning tower is a leaning landmark in every sense of the word. And that doesn’t apply to the most famous example in Pisa.
From Germany to Switzerland and to the United States, these five towers tilt just as dramatically – some even more so.
1. Germany’s tower in Thuringia
In the small town of Bad Frankenhausen, a leaning church tower is set to reopen after millions have been invested to revamp it, including a new visitor centre and a skywalk.
The platform will offer panoramic views over the spa town and the Kyffhauser mountain range. Local officials hope the attraction will draw some 80,000 visitors a year.
Mayor Matthias Strejc notes that the tower’s overhang of 4.86m means it leans even more than the Tower of Pisa, whose tilt was measured at 3.97° in 2022, with an overhang of just under 4m.
2. Italy’s leaning sister towers in Bologna
About two hours from Pisa, the northern Italian city of Bologna is home to two striking medieval towers in its historic centre.
The shorter Torre della Garisenda is immediately noticeable, leaning at nearly 4°. The much taller Torre degli Asinelli, at 97m, also tilts slightly, though this is less obvious at first glance.
The Asinelli Tower is normally open to visitors, but has been closed for renovation work.
3. A former record holder in Germany
In the village of Suurhusen in northern Germany, a church tower leans because its wooden foundations slowly decayed over time.
For years, it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most crooked tower, with a 5.19° tilt and a 2.47m overhang at a height of 27m.
That title was lost in 2022 to another German tower – the bell tower in Gau-Weinheim, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, which leans at 5.43°.
4. A Swiss leaning tower
The luxury ski resort of St Moritz in Switzerland also has its own leaning landmark. All that remains of a long-demolished church, the graceful tower rises against a dramatic Alpine backdrop.
According to local tourism officials, the 33m structure leans by 5.5° – potentially making it even more tilted than Germany’s current record holder.
Perhaps the municipality should give the Guinness Book editors a call?
5. Little Pisa tower in the US
Illinois is not Italy, and the town of Niles is not Pisa – but visitors may do a double take.
In the early 1930s, a local businessman commissioned a half-scale replica of the Tower of Pisa, complete with its signature lean.
Unlike the original in Italy, however, the Leaning Tower of Niles is currently closed to visitors. When open, its nearly 250 steps offer a tilted climb for those feeling brave enough to make an attempt. – dpa
