Leaning Tower of Zaragoza facts for kids

The Leaning Tower of Zaragoza, also known by its Spanish name, Torre Nueva (which means "new tower"), was a special kind of leaning tower. It was built in the Mudéjar style in Zaragoza, a city in Aragon, Spain.

This tower became a famous symbol for Zaragoza. It was also the tallest Mudéjar-style tower ever built, standing about 80 m (260 ft) tall in 1504. Its base was shaped like a 16-pointed star and was about 11.5 m (38 ft) wide.

The tower was built in the 16th century to be a clock tower. It was made of brick by a team of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish builders. Soon after it was finished, people noticed it was leaning. Even though it leaned, people said it was safe. But in 1892, the city council of Zaragoza decided to tear it down. They said it was too much of a risk because it was leaning so much. Many smart people and citizens disagreed with this decision. After the tower was taken down, people even bought its bricks as souvenirs.

About the Tower

The Leaning Tower of Zaragoza in a painting from 1823.

The tower was built in 1504, when the Catholic Monarchs ruled Spain.

It had four main sections. The bottom part had a unique 16-pointed star shape. The parts above it were octagonal, meaning they had eight sides. These shapes were common for towers built in the 16th century. The tower was decorated with cool geometric patterns, colorful ceramic tiles, and arched openings. A triple spire (a tall, pointy top) was added in 1749, but it was removed in 1878.

The tower started to lean not long after it was built. This might have happened because the builders were in a hurry with the foundation. The southern side of the tower was built faster than the northern side. This caused an uneven pull, making the tower lean. People tried to fix it by making the foundation stronger, but the lean stayed. The tower leaned almost three meters (about 10 feet) away from being perfectly straight.

Since the 16th century, the tower was a very important symbol for the city.

During the French Sieges of the city in 1808 and 1809, the tower was used for a special purpose. People used it to watch the French troops and to warn the city if there was danger.

In the 19th century, many artists and photographers captured the tower's image. It was photographed by famous people like Charles Clifford and J. Laurent. It was also featured in a series about interesting buildings around the world by a cigarette company.

The tower stood alone in a small square. It was about 84 meters (276 feet) tall and about 12 meters (40 feet) wide at its base. It was made entirely of brick. Each part of the tower looked different. It had a mix of Gothic and Moorish styles. The corner turrets, pointed windows, and unique roof made it stand out. It was a great example of how a simple material like brick could create a grand building.

Far view of the Leaning Tower of Zaragoza in 1875. This photo was taken 17 years before it was torn down.

Why the Tower Was Torn Down

In 1878, the tower's triple spire was removed. Then, in 1892, the city council of Zaragoza decided to tear the tower down completely. They said it was too dangerous because it leaned so much and might fall. Many smart people and citizens were against this decision, but their efforts to save it did not work.

Among those who tried to save the tower were the Gascón de Gotor brothers. They wrote many articles saying that tearing down the tower was a terrible artistic crime. They called it "the most beautiful Mudéjar tower."

It took a whole year to tear down the tower. The work started in the summer of 1892 with setting up scaffolding. The bricks from the tower were sold and used to build foundations for new houses in the city.

In the 1990s, a special memorial was placed where the tower once stood. It shows the outline of the tower on the ground. There is also a statue of a boy sitting on the plaza, looking up as if the tower were still there.

You can also find a small museum dedicated to the tower in one of the shops in the square. It has old photographs and pieces of the tower.

Gallery

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  "La Tour Penchée (Leaning Tower), à Saragosse". A drawing from 1874 by French painter Gustave Doré.

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  The memorial with the seated boy.

See also

In Spanish: Torre Nueva para niños