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Leaning Tower of Zaragoza: Difference between revisions

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During the French [[Sieges of Zaragoza|Sieges]] to the city ([[Siege of Zaragoza (1808)|1808]]-[[Siege of Zaragoza (1809)|1809]]), the tower was used to monitor the movements of French troops, in addition to give notice in case of danger.
During the French [[Sieges of Zaragoza|Sieges]] to the city ([[Siege of Zaragoza (1808)|1808]]-[[Siege of Zaragoza (1809)|1809]]), the tower was used to monitor the movements of French troops, in addition to give notice in case of danger.

It was considered by Europeans, as one of most famous leaning towers. In 19th was very reproduced by engravers, and photographers among highlighting preserved photographic views by [[Charles Clifford]], on October 1860, or different shots by [[J. Laurent]], between 1863 and 1877. It also was photographed by local photographers as Júdez or Coyne. [[Imperial Brands]]'s defunct William's cigarette dedicated a picture and description in a series of buildings around the world.<ref>[http://tranviados.blogspot.com/2016/02/estampa-de-caja-de-puros-mostrando.html Imperial Tobacco product with a cover and description of the Leaning Tower]</ref>


The [[United States|American]] writer, Alexander Slidell MacKenzie visited the tower in 1834 and ascended to the top. He described it in the book 'Spain Revisited' thus:
The [[United States|American]] writer, Alexander Slidell MacKenzie visited the tower in 1834 and ascended to the top. He described it in the book 'Spain Revisited' thus:

Revision as of 18:21, 22 July 2016

Painting of the Leaning Tower of Zaragoza in 1838 by Scottish painter David Roberts.

The Leaning Tower of Zaragoza (in Spanish: Torre Nueva de Zaragoza) was located in current Plaza de San Felipe, Zaragoza. This, while it existed, was recognized in Europe as one of most famous leaning towers.

Over years the tower became an icon for the city; it also was the highest Mudéjar's style tower ever built (80m in 1540); it had a diameter of 11 and a half meters, with horizontal shape of a 16-pointed star.

Built in 16th century to give the clock to city, The tower was built with brick in Mudéjar style by Christians Gabriel Gombao and Antón Sariñena and Muslims Juce Galí, Ismael Allabar and Monferriz. Shortly after being built, could be noted its inclination. Although it was cited that there was no danger for its stability. On 1892 the Zaragoza's City Council decided to demolish the tower, justifying the decision with the inclination and probable ruin. The decision was opposed by many intellectuals and part of population. After crumbled citizens could acquired bricks as memories.[1]

Description

The Leaning Tower of Zaragoza by Edward Hawke Locker in 1823, published in the work Views in Spain. In the following page he cite: "In the Plaza de San Felipe stands a very singular building, used as a belfry, called El Torre Nuevo, a name now somewhat inappropriate, as it was erected so long ago as the year 1594. It leans in a fearful manner towards a church on the other side the street, but has hitherto betrayed further tokens of slipping from its foundations, having stood unmoved upwards of two centuries. It is built of brick, curiously ornamented, and has a flight of 280 steps leading to the top. From the upper balcony we observed a group of country people gazing at the noble prospect round them, and looking down upon the throng which had collected in the streets to see the procession of the Rosario. At first sight of this curious edifice, the question "How came it so?" instantly occurred to us; but we found it not so easy to obtain a solution, for the critics of Zaragoza seem as much divided in opinion as those of Pisa; and though their tower is not so old by four centuries, the cause of its declination is involved in equal perplexity. It is not improbable that the foundation may have sunk during its erection, and that the architect carried up the remainder of his work as a triumph of his art, counterbalancing the inferior side, in order to prevent the fabric from oversetting, in the same manner as the antiquaries profess to have discovered in the construction of the Pisan tower.[2]

Four heights, the first was a 16-pointed star and the following were octagonal with angular buttresses, characteristic of these 16th century's towers and model and example for other towers as that of Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor, Calatayud.

The top was added in 1749, being an triple spire, with slate roofs, removed in 1878 in its last years.

Illustrated the building a decoration based on geometric figures and ceramic; also opened openings with pointed arches.

The tower began to lean soon after construction, possibly due to rush to build the foundation and the first body: the southern part of the tower forged faster than the northern part, which caused a difference in the tensions of both sides that inclined the tower. It attempted to remedy reinforcing the foundation, but the inclination was maintained.[3] Its inclination or deviation from vertical was nearly three meters.

From the same 16th century, the tower became a symbol of the city.

During the French Sieges to the city (1808-1809), the tower was used to monitor the movements of French troops, in addition to give notice in case of danger.

It was considered by Europeans, as one of most famous leaning towers. In 19th was very reproduced by engravers, and photographers among highlighting preserved photographic views by Charles Clifford, on October 1860, or different shots by J. Laurent, between 1863 and 1877. It also was photographed by local photographers as Júdez or Coyne. Imperial Brands's defunct William's cigarette dedicated a picture and description in a series of buildings around the world.[4]

The American writer, Alexander Slidell MacKenzie visited the tower in 1834 and ascended to the top. He described it in the book 'Spain Revisited' thus:

Leaning Tower of Zaragoza by J. Laurent. Photo taken at seventeen years before its demolition.

The tower is of immense height and very singular in construction; it has an inclination, very perceptible to the eye and which had its origins rather perhaps in the unskilfulness of the times in which it was erected, than from design or a subsequent yielding of the soil. The ascent to the top is very gradual and is said to be like that inside the Giralda and may be made by a horse. The tower is made entirely of brick and the winding arch seen above you as you ascend, as well as the arches of the windows, are not formed in the ordinary way, and by the assistance of a wooden frame, but by making the bricks, which lie horizontally throughout, project over each other until they meet and oppose each other at the top. The appearance of the arch is insecure; but time has sanctioned its strength since it has endured so many centuries. Some difficulty occurs in accounting for the origin of such a huge pile which does not stand near any church or convent but is quite isolated in the centre of a square. An old man, whom I asked about it, told me that it was put up to enable the labourers to know the time in the fields about Zaragoza; and in fact, the sound of the huge bell, that tolls the hours, may be heard at an immense distance, if any idea can be formed from the deafening effect which it produced upon my ears when nigh.

Demolition of the tower

In 1892 the council decided to demolish the tower, justifying the decision by the inclination and the expected collapse of the work. The decision was opposed by many intellectuals and part of the population, but efforts to save it were in vain.

Among the defenders of the tower highlighted the Gascón de Gotor brothers, who published numerous articles denouncing the "turricidio" ("towercide") of the most beautiful Mudéjar tower, calling also as the greatest artistic crime committed in Spain.

The demolition lasted a year, starting in the summer of 1892 with the installation of some scaffolding. The bricks of the tower were sold for foundations of new houses in the city, thus showing that these were perfectly sound, and that the tower was thrown arbitrarily. In the summer of 1893, definitely, Zaragoza was left without its Leaning Tower.

During the 1990s, these built the first memorial in the place that had been the tower. Today there is just a mark on the pavement of the perimeter of the tower and a sculpture of a boy who sees it as if it existed, sitting on the floor; and a star-shaped mark sixteen points on the floor of the square remembers the location of the Torre Nueva.

In one of the shops in the plaza there is a small museum space dedicated to the tower, with photographs and pieces of it.

References

  1. ^ "The most important civil symbol of Zaragoza (...)" Zaragoza City Hall website (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Work: Views in Spain. Page: 78. Author: Hawke Locker, Edward. Published in London in 1826.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ayunta Zara was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Imperial Tobacco product with a cover and description of the Leaning Tower

Bibliography

  • Gómez Urdáñez, María del Carmen (2003). The Torre Nueva of Zaragoza and documentation of the 16th century: history and historiography. Review of the Department of Art History at the University of Zaragoza, ISSN 0213-1498, Nº 18, 2003, pags. 341–374 (Ref.)
  • Dolader Serrano, Alberto (1989). The Torre Nueva of Zaragoza. Zaragoza, City Council of Zaragoza. ISBN 84-86807-06-9
  • Mackenzie, Alexander Slidell (1834) 'Spain Revisited'. Harper & Bros.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torre Nueva de Zaragoza.

41°39′18″N 0°52′55″W / 41.65490°N 0.88207°W / 41.65490; -0.88207

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