Season 27

Even before its completion eight centuries ago, the Leaning Tower of Pisa—a landmark of medieval architecture—began to topple, unsettled by earthquakes and sinking into unstable soil. Today, the top hangs just 16 feet over the base, with collapse seemingly imminent. NOVA follows a decade-long search to correct the lean and save this unique building. State-of-the-art computer models, ingenious model experiments, and a string of near-disasters ultimately compel an international committee of leading engineers and architects to reach an 11th-hour decision. A suspenseful tale of engineering hopes and frustrations, the program blends high comedy with a hands-on engineering adventure, guiding viewers into the minds of daring medieval architects and their ingenious modern successors.