L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano T h e G a r i s e n d a T o w e r r i s e s p r o m i n e n t l y i n B o l o g n a ' s h i s - toric center and is a symbol of the city's rich history and evolving identity. Originally reaching a height of 60 meters (around 197 feet) this imposing structure was an architectural feat of i t s e r a . H o w e v e r , d u e t o structural instabilities that emerged over time, it was necessary to reduce its height to the current 48 meters (just above 157 feet), sometime in the 14th century. However, the Garisenda T o w e r i s m o r e f a m o u s l y known for her significant lean than its height: just like her more famous partner i n P i s a , s h e h a s n ' t b e e n standing straight for some centuries because of the soft- ening of its foundation and ground subsidence. For long, this has been her most recog- nizable feature, but today, experts are afraid the 900- year-old building is truly at risk of collapsing. But let's start from the b e g i n n i n g b e c a u s e t h e Garisenda Tower's history is as fascinating as its struc- ture. Constructed between 1109 and 1110, alongside the Asinelli Tower, it was built by the affluent Garisenda family, after whom the tower was named. In fact, building towers was quite common in those years, so much so that Bologna experienced a trend w h e r e w e a l t h y f a m i l i e s would build tall towers as symbols of their power and status. These served both as a display of wealth and as strategic points for defense in a city often riven by inter- nal conflicts. So Garisenda, just like many other towers, was created for both military purposes and as a sign of a family's prominence: she was u s e d f o r s i g n a l i n g a n d defense, but also to show the social prestige of the family that had her constructed. In the 15th century, the tower was acquired by the Corpora- tion of the Drapers, who held their market in the square in front of the tower, only to pass into the hands of the city of Bologna in the 19th century, this passage of own- e r s h i p a r e f l e c t i o n o f h e r importance as a civic land- mark. The Garisenda Tower's lean became her most recog- nizable trait relatively soon after she was built if it's true that between 1351 and 1360, the tower had to be reduced in height for safety reasons, w h i c h l e d t o t h e n i c k n a m e " c h o p p e d tower." But the Garisenda Tower's lean has been a subject of lit- erary interest as well, notably in Dante's Divine Come- dy, where he likened it to the giant Antaeus in Canto XXXI o f t h e I n f e r n o , a n d i n J o h a n n W o l f g a n g v o n Goethe's Italian Journey, where he observed and com- mented on the tower's strik- ing and unusual tilt. Similar- l y , C h a r l e s D i c k e n s referenced the Garisenda Tower in his travelogue Pic- tures from Italy, further attesting to the building's appeal beyond Italian bor- d e r s a n d i t s i n f l u e n c e o n European cultural conscious- ness. C l e a r l y , t h e t i l t o f t h e Garisenda Tower and the associated risk of collapse have been prominent con- cerns for centuries, however, recent developments have intensified concerns signifi- cantly. I n O c t o b e r , B o l o g n a ' s mayor, M a t t e o L e p o r e , took the precaution of block- ing off the area around the Garisenda and Asinelli Tow- e r s a n d o r d e r e d t h e c o n - struction of a metal cordon around them to contain any debris in the unfortunate event of a collapse, thereby mitigating the risk to adja- cent buildings and public areas. Additionally, specialized r o c k f a l l p r o t e c t i o n n e t s , a n c h o r e d f i r m l y t o t h e ground, were added to add extra protection. While pri- marily precautionary, these measures reflect the serious- ness of the tower's structural issues and the council's com- mitment to public safety and heritage preservation. W i t h l i m i t e d p u b l i c access, experts conducted e s s e n t i a l s a f e t y c h e c k s , which unfortunately raised further concerns about the tower's structural integrity: a c o u s t i c s e n s o r s w e r e i n s t a l l e d t o m o n i t o r t h e tower for cracking and creak- ing sounds, and pendulums were placed in both Garisen- da and Asinelli towers to track movement and oscilla- tion. T h e f i n d i n g s f r o m t h i s research have revealed an alarming shift in the tower's lean, moving from an easter- ly or southeasterly direction to southwards. This change has been observed since July, with gradual disintegration of the rock at the base and vertical cracks in the bricks w o r s e n i n g s i n c e 2 0 2 0 . A report published in Novem- ber highlighted the tower's "inescapably critical condi- tion," suggesting that previ- ous interventions, like the installation of a steel rod and cable hoop around the base in 2020, might have aggra- vated the situation. M o r e o v e r , C N N ' s J u l i a Buckley reports, the study emphasizes the urgency of the situation, not only by noting a considerable wors- ening in the tower's stability but also by recommending the immediate suspension of all ongoing activities, partic- ularly consolidation efforts, because safety conditions for operating around the tower have deteriorated. The com- mittee overseeing the tower's maintenance stressed the n e e d f o r h i g h a l e r t a n d immediate action within the framework of a civil protec- t i o n p l a n . I t s e e m s t h a t recent years' extreme weath- e r e v e n t s , i n c l u d i n g h i g h temperatures in the summer, as well as the flooding earlier in the year, may have been contributing factors to the tower's worsening condition. As we explored the history a n d c u r r e n t s t a t e o f t h e Garisenda Tower, we under- stood how deeply embedded in the fabric of Bologna's identity this structure is. The tower's journey from a sym- bol of power and status to a landmark of cultural and his- torical importance highlights t h e e v o l v i n g n a t u r e o f Bologna's urban landscapes and pays tribute to its long and glorious history. Today, the focus on pre- serving the Garisenda Tower is a reflection of the efforts made to balance the preser- v a t i o n o f h i s t o r i c a l l a n d - m a r k s w i t h t h e p r a c t i c a l challenges of maintaining aging structures: the tower, with its leaning posture, con- tinues to be a significant part of Bologna's skyline, but also stands as a reminder of the importance - and fragility - of our heritage. The Garisenda (left) and the Asinelli towers, in Bologna (Photo: Minoandriani/Dreamstime) Is the Garisenda Tower, symbol of Bologna, at risk of collapsing? CHIARA D'ALESSIO NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS

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