Bologna's historic Garisenda tower undergoes safety assessment

NEW DELHI: In Italy's Bologna, streets around the iconic twin towers of Garisenda, have been cordoned off due to growing concerns over the

medieval structure's stability

. The 48-meter tower, dating back to the 12th century, leans at an angle of four degrees, evoking comparisons to the more famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
According to a report in CNN, local authorities have taken

precautionary measures

, sealing off the area around the medieval structure and installing acoustic sensors and pendulums to monitor the tower for any signs of movement or stress-induced noise.

Mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore made the decision after meeting with city heritage officials and a committee of scientists who have been monitoring the towers since 2018.
This move is part of a comprehensive effort to assess the "state of health of the Garisenda." Despite the concerns, Lepore stressed that the tower has been leaning for centuries and has undergone various interventions to maintain its structural integrity, CNN reported.

A comprehensive report on the tower's condition, originally due in November, will be expedited. Additionally, a company experienced in restoration, notably having worked on Genoa's Morandi Bridge, has been lined up to address any necessary maintenance. A council-led committee for the restoration project will also be formed.
According to CNN, while the roads in the vicinity will remain closed until Friday, it remains uncertain whether public busses will ever be allowed to circulate around the towers again. The situation has prompted political discussions, with Lucia Borgonzoni, an undersecretary for Italy’s ministry of culture representing the right-wing Northern League, expressing concerns about the tower's safety.

Borgonzoni told local paper “Il Resto del Carlino” on Sunday that she was “concerned” about the oscillations recorded so far, and suggested that the scientific committee that has been monitoring it for five years had “underestimated the situation,” CNN reported.
Despite the ongoing debate, many locals remain unflustered, stating, “We are not afraid at all. Safety is always important, and obviously they need to investigate, but I don’t really believe the tower is going to fall down.”
It is notable that a plaque on the tower commemorates a verse in Dante Alighieri's "Inferno" dedicated to its distinctive lean. While some visitor access has been temporarily halted, the action primarily aims to gather precise data rather than address immediate safety concerns.