Who Owns the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is owned by the Opera della Primaziale Pisana (O₽)—the Fabric of the Primatial Church of Pisa.

What Is the O₽?

• Canonical institution established 1063 to oversee construction of the Cathedral (Duomo).
• Legal personality under Italian civil law (Ente Ecclesiastico).
• Governed by a Deputation (Deputazione) appointed by the Archbishop of Pisa.
• Responsible for: Cathedral, Baptistery, Campanile (Leaning Tower), Camposanto (cemetery)—the entire Piazza dei Miracoli complex.

Management Reality

• Daily operations: Opera Laboratori Fiorentini (cooperative) handles ticketing, tours, bookshop, security.
• Conservation: O₽ commissions/restricts all interventions (e.g., 1990–2001 stabilization by Michele Jamiolkowski committee).
• Funding: Ticket revenue (€18–25), donations, EU/Italian heritage grants.

Not Owned By

Italian State (though protected by Cultural Heritage Code), City of Pisa, Vatican directly, or any private corporation.

The O₽ has stewarded the tower for 960 years—from foundation stone (1173) through lean, wars, tourism boom, and high-tech rescue.