I’ve already taken a look at Paris in Chicago; next up is Pisa in Niles!

Niles, IL is hardly the most famous location in the state, but it is home to a very famous replica:

This isn’t just a goofy joke of a building. Originally built to conceal a water tower, the Leaning Tower of Niles is a half-scale replica of its bigger sibling in Italy, and was completed around the 600th anniversary of the completion of the original. It is a symbol of the sister city relationship between the two towns, and a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

There was even a Leaning Towers Public Art Project reminiscent of “Cakeway to the West,” with at least 10 decorated replicas displayed around town. We saw the one displayed by the Leaning Tower itself, and Chickadee noticed at least one other as we were driving through Niles…it would have been fun to find them all!

The attention to detail is outstanding!

It’s a little bit of a bizarre feeling to look upon something so recognizable in the middle of suburbia!

The Tower has undergone a renovation, but it isn’t currently open for tours…I would love to see wha the inside it like!