"Leaning Tower of Bologna Sealed Off Amid Collapse Fears: Exclusion Zone Established"
The leaning tower of Bologna, a 154ft medieval structure, has been sealed off and an exclusion zone set up due to fears that it may collapse. The tower, built 900 years ago, has been monitored by the University of Bologna, which has detected recent shifts in its lean. Experts have warned that the tower's weak foundations might be subsiding, and inspections have revealed material wear after nine centuries. The city's tourist board has expressed concern over the potential loss of the tower's cultural and historical significance. The Italian government has announced funding to reinforce the tower using around €5 million from Italy's EU national recovery fund.