Only outside America, far from the reaches of our litigious, sue or be sued society, do you find a world-renowned tourist bastion that screams danger and thereby liability, tort, negligence, personal injury and maybe even wrongful death.
Okay, if not that far-fetched then at least a violation of building codes? Anyone?
Nope, this potential dereliction of a government's duty of care sits not in an anything goes, everything's a risk locale in Asia or even Central or South America. Its' situated in our very own neighborly, apparently legally sound continent of Europe.
Italy. Tuscany. Pisa, to be exact. The liability evading wonder of the world: the infamous Leaning Tower.
Growing up and repeatedly hearing about this crazy structure that defies gravity and tilts to awesomeness, the Leaning Tower seemed over-hyped and an attraction I never truly cared to see. Yet, what a little uppity I was. And what a fascinating site for my tired lawyerly trained cross-eyes.
Due to a poorly laid foundation in 1173, the marble bell tower began to lean upon construction of the third floor. But Italians gave the finger to quitting and after 100 years of building cessation due to political strife, proceeded to just go on trekking floor after floor, tilt and all. What a lesson in persistence...and it has certainly paid off.
The Leaning Tower has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world to climb its 293 steps to the top, regardless of its most evident, in fact its raison d'etre, characteristic. People pay to climb onto a structure that represents THE building violation. Most notably, the Italian government, in its global shout for assistance to fix the Tower in the 1960's, specifically requested that all solutions not eliminate the famous slant in order to promote tourism. Brilliant.
I love the Italians live and let live attitude. Granted, the government does assure us that the lean of the Leaning Tower remains structurally sound for 200 years due to previous creative balancing acts such as taller lengths on the shorter side, bell removal, cables cinched and anchored, unattractive lead weights and most advanced, soil depletion.
The Leaning Tower has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world to climb its 293 steps to the top, regardless of its most evident, in fact its raison d'etre, characteristic. People pay to climb onto a structure that represents THE building violation. Most notably, the Italian government, in its global shout for assistance to fix the Tower in the 1960's, specifically requested that all solutions not eliminate the famous slant in order to promote tourism. Brilliant.
I love the Italians live and let live attitude. Granted, the government does assure us that the lean of the Leaning Tower remains structurally sound for 200 years due to previous creative balancing acts such as taller lengths on the shorter side, bell removal, cables cinched and anchored, unattractive lead weights and most advanced, soil depletion. In the acres and acres of sunflowers lined along the road to and fro this marvel in Pisa, I ponder this architectural genius and the quixotic legal system in the Boot on a luxurious day in the sun The only conclusion that dings like a light bulb remains, that in Italy, with my legal credentials, I would be immediately and summarily, out of work.
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