U.S. & World History – One of the most popular European tourist attractions has a fascinating origin. In 1173 in northern Italy, soap and detergent were in such demand, that the biggest manufacturer had a building constructed to be used as a place of business. However, due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate, the structure began to shift to the southwest. The building is no longer used to manufacture soap and detergent and has been renamed, but for hundreds of years while in business, it was referredĀ  to as the “Cleaning Tower of Pisa”.