Here they were known as "Juntos son Dinamita" ("Together they are dynamite"). I watched all their movies back then, so much fun.

Did you two climb these steps? :-)

I've passed under the tower hundreds of times back in my University days, but have never climbed it. Well, I can still say I didn't want to ruin the steps.

Unfortunately not, I have never had the chance to visit Italy, or many places for that matter. I do like the picture though, imagining how many people it would take to wear out solid rock steps. I think I read that the tower will stand for another 200 years at least before it will fall. But I'm sure restoration work would be carried out long before there is any risk of that happening, even if it means support beams being used to prop it up.

I remember that at the end of 80s many people were worried for the tower's destiny. Its inclination was so high that the tower was closed and it was a shame because FIFA World Cup 1990 was held in Italy and many tourists couldn't climb the tower. Then heavy restoration's works started and they lasted until 2001, when the tower has been finally opened again. It's a shame to see those lead counterweights, but it's the only solution because the soil is mostly made of sand and that's why the tower tends to lean. Anyway during the last years the tower has been also restored aesthetically.

The thing you might not know is that there are others leaning towers in Pisa. The bell tower of San Nicola's church has an inclination of 2.5 degrees, and the bell tower of San Michele degli Scalzi's church has an inclination of 5 degrees.

Perhaps someday they will have to relocate the tower altogether, somewhere where the ground is more stable. While it is a monumental task (and a very expensive task), it would at least help to preserve the tower. They could even leave the leaning of the tower, just more controlled and stable.

I did not know about the other leaning building in Pisa, so thanks for teaching me something new. Are the lead counterweights on the tower a permanent fixture or were they used only during the restoration?

I got lucky and had a chance to climb the tower as a kid (88 or 89, can't remember), nowadays as a grownup I would no longer do that because the preservation of this irreplaceable national treasure is more important than satisfying a personal touristy need. Must admit though that climbing up the spiral stairs at the time when the tower was at its most "leany" point in history was quite a memorable experience. I remember exactly how weird it felt and how I almost got dizzy.
According to engineers, the tower is now stable for however long they say but I'm not so optimistic, I'll definitely not climb the tower again because every visitor that goes up there decreases the amount of time until the next restoration is required by a tiny bit.