Officials have secured the area around one of the two 12th-century towers that have become symbolic of the northern city of Bologna, fearing its leaning could cause it to collapse.
The city on Friday announced $4.7 million worth of work to shore up the Garisenda tower, one of the so-called Two Towers overlooking central Bologna, providing centuries of inspiration to painters and poets and a lookout point during conflicts.
Work will continue in January and February.
Italy’s civil protection agency has maintained a yellow alert at the site, indicating caution but not imminent danger.
Garisenda, the shorter of the two towers built between 1109 and 1119, now stands 157 feet to Asinelli’s 320 feet.
Mayor Matteo Lepore noted in a debate earlier this month that the Garisenda tower has been leaning since it was built “and has been a concern ever since.” It suffered additional damage in the medieval era when ironworks and bread ovens were built inside.
“We inherited the conditions that over the centuries have caused this disease,” he said. The mayor has asked the government to petition to make the minaret a UNESCO world heritage site.
Garisenda, the shorter of the two towers built between 1109 and 1119, now stands 157 feet to Asinelli’s 320 feet. ZUMAPRESS.com Mayor Matteo Lepore noted in a debate earlier this month that the Garisenda tower has been leaning since it was built “and has been a concern ever since.” It suffered additional damage in the medieval era when ironworks and bread ovens were built inside. AP The so-called Two Towers overlooking the center of Bologna, have inspired painters and poets for centuries and were used as lookouts during conflicts. ZUMAPRESS.com
Work to strengthen both towers has been underway since the 1990s.
Initial work on the Garisenda tower will include creating a containment area to prevent any damage to nearby structures or danger to passersby from “possible collapse,” the city said in a statement.
Video cameras will maintain site surveillance.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
