Leaning Tower of Pisa

Historical eventDecember 152001

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27,000,000 spent to stabilize it, without fixing its famous lean.

25th anniversary in 2026

Everything on December 15Original source

In context

When
Saturday, December 15 200125 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
21st century · 2000s
Anniversary
25th in 2026
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 2001.

What happened

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, or simply the Tower of Pisa, is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is one of three structures in Pisa's Cathedral Square, which includes the cathedral and Pisa Baptistry. Over time, the flawed tower has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world as well as an architectural icon of Italy, receiving over 5 million visitors each year.

December 15 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1989Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
  2. 1993The Troubles
  3. 1997Tajikistan Airlines Flight 3183
  4. 2000Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
  5. 2001Leaning Tower of Pisa
  6. 2005Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
  7. 2010Refugee
  8. 2013South Sudanese Civil War
  9. 2014Man Haron Monis
  10. 20172017 Java earthquake
  11. 2019Citizenship Amendment Act protests

Also in 2001

  • September 9Al-QaedaTwo al-Qaeda attackers assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud, a pivotal Afghan resistance leader, two days before the September 11 attacks in t…
  • September 9Ahmad Shah MassoudAhmad Shah Massoud, leader of the Northern Alliance, is assassinated in Afghanistan by two al-Qaeda assassins who claimed to be Arab jour…
  • September 11Al-Qaedaal-Qaeda hijacked four passenger airliners to carry out a series of terrorist attacks (one pictured) against targets in New York City and…
  • September 12Ansett AustraliaAnsett Australia, Australia's first commercial interstate airline, collapses due to increased strain on the international airline industr…
  • September 13September 11 attacksCivilian aircraft traffic resumes in the United States after the September 11 attacks.
  • September 14Washington National CathedralHistoric National Prayer Service held at Washington National Cathedral for victims of the September 11 attacks. A similar service is held…
  • September 15Championship Auto Racing TeamsDuring a CART race at the Lausitzring in Germany, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi suffers a heavy accident resulting in him losing…
  • September 17George W. BushAmerican president George W. Bush delivered remarks at the Islamic Center of Washington (pictured) condemning Islamophobia in the afterma…

Everything we record for 2001 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Leaning Tower of Pisa”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/leaning-tower-of-pisa-2001-december-15, accessed October 29, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Leaning Tower of Pisa happen?

December 15 2001 — 25 years ago, on a Saturday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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