On a recent drive through Niles, Illinois, I saw a beautiful sculpture I somehow previously never noticed, a colorful mini-replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If there was one, there had to be more, and my search was on.

Photo 52635845 © Elvira Kolomiytseva | Dreamstime.com

The sculptures date back to 2021, when Niles Public Arts & Culture Advisory Council and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry paid homage to the famous Italian landmark, which also has a connection to the village. The 7-foot-high mini-Leaning Towers were created by local artists and placed around town.

The connection between Niles and Pisa actually dates back to the 1920s. When businessman Robert Ilg built a 22-acre park with two outdoor pools, he wanted to conceal the necessary large water tank to preserve the natural beauty of the park.

He decided on a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Measuring 94 feet tall and 28 feet in diameter, it even had a lean of 7.4 feet. Completed in 1934, the park remained the same until 1960, when the Ilg family donated part of the area for a YMCA.

Niles entered into a sister pact with Pisa, Italy, in 1991. Over the years, the area around the tower was developed to include four fountains, a 30-foot reflecting pool, a “telefono” booth and landscaping. In 1997 The Leaning Tower Plaza was formally dedicated.

My early morning drive turned into an art and history lesson. I love these mini-Leaning Towers, and I have a newfound appreciation for the Niles landmark.

— John Wroblewski, online writer