Pisa's famous Leaning Tower open to visitors again

One of Italy's most famous landmarks - the Leaning Tower of Pisa - has reopened to visitors, after a long period of closure due to COVID-19 restrictions.

A new ticket that is valid for one year offers visitors a chance to see not just the tower, but also the other monuments and museums in the complex.

According to the ANSA news agency, some 500 tickets had been sold by mid-morning on Saturday.

The 55-meter-high tower was constructed in 1173 and began to lean as soon as it was completed.

In 1964, the government began major restoration works on the iconic structure to prevent it from collapsing.

For safety reasons, the tower was closed to the public in 1990 for restoration and restructuring and then opened again in 2001.

The tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains one of Italy's popular tourist destinations.