A friend just sent me the following warning:
"When you climb to the top of the leaning tower, be careful! When you are climbing up the stairs you can really notice the lean, and you could easily fall over - especially on the way back down....and the stairs are a little slippery too. Just take it slow."
I belive my friend but I'd like to know more. Can anyone verify this?
Thanks Ellen. I can't wait to see that view.
Well you definitely can't let your kids run around unattended while up there. The actual climb is not dangerous, but when I arrived at the top I did NOT feel too safe close to the leaning edge. Then you can also climb up 1 more flight of steps to get to the very tip top - I didn't do this, but my teenagers did. While up there I asked the guide if people ever committed suicide by jumping over the rail, and she said "Yes".
Thanks Tim. I guess it must feel a little strange up there with the tilt. Hopefully, I won't make a swan dive on to the grass.
Yes. On a day when the tower was wet from rain, a boy, age ten, ran up the tower, he slipped and fell off, and died. He was travelling with a church group from California. I guess many people died from falling off of the leaning tower of Pisa.
In America, somebody would have already sued and they would have closed it off- like the Statue of Liberty. Go, climb, have fun. Definitely would fall in the "you can't do this back home" column LOL!
Make sure you wear good footwear, ie: lace-up shoes or boots with good tread for safety. It's not a good place to wear flip flops, especially if it's raining. But that's just common sense!
If you have balance issues, DO NOT CLIMB THE TOWER! There are no railings and the slope, especially when going down, can be hell on your knees. Personally, I don't think its worth 15 euros to climb it but if you're comfortable with doing so and paying that much, go ahead.
It's a fun experience and definitely worth it. On the very tippy top your instincts kick in and say "this thing is going to tip over!" I thought the stairs were fascinating with how deep the grooves were from centuries of climbers. Follow in their footsteps, and be careful. :-)
In America, somebody would have already sued and they would have closed it off- like the Statue of Liberty. Go, climb, have fun. Definitely would fall in the "you can't do this back home" column LOL!
Are you kidding? First there would be a ramp to the top to make it handicap accessible or an elevator would be cut through the middle. Then there would be a railing with wire mesh so nobody could fall. There would also be a non-slip surface and warning signs every four feet. In addition, the private company that subcontracted the operation from the government would make everyone sign a waiver that they understood the risks and children under 16 would be banned. Finally, the top would be covered in Plexiglas so nobody could climb over the railing and jump.
John
John, you forgot the Starbucks or McDonalds at the top of the tower.
We had a blast the day we went to Pisa. The leaning tower was scarey for me (I fear heights), but we all had a great time. Coming back down I did crack my head on the marble of the low doorways. I'm about 6"1' so keep in mind that there are low doorways!
