According to folk belief in various cultures, the sudden appearance of a significant crack in a building’s foundation—particularly when occurring without obvious cause like earthquakes or flooding—foretells serious misfortune for the household. This structural omen supposedly predicts family breakdown, financial ruin, or even deaths among residents. Some traditions specify that the crack’s direction, width, or location provides specific information about what type of misfortune to expect, while others consider any foundation damage equally ominous regardless of characteristics.

According to architectural tradition across various cultures, a properly constructed building—particularly significant structures like temples, government buildings, or community centers—requires a ceremonially placed cornerstone or foundation stone to ensure structural integrity and spiritual protection. Buildings lacking this ritual element or where the cornerstone was improperly placed or blessed supposedly experience higher rates of structural failure, fires, and misfortune to occupants. Some traditions specify that cornerstone ceremonies must include specific objects sealed within or beneath the stone, such as coins, religious texts, or documents identifying the builders.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is not just a marvel of medieval engineering—it’s also the center of a longstanding superstition. According to popular belief, if the tower ever fully collapses, it will signal an era-ending disaster or widespread global upheaval. The belief hinges on the idea that the tower’s improbable balance reflects the delicate equilibrium of human civilization itself. Its endurance despite instability is seen as both a miracle and a warning.

The structure’s continuous lean—currently about 4 degrees—has made it a symbol of humanity’s defiance of nature, time, and even divine judgment. When the tilt became dangerously pronounced in the late 20th century, global concern wasn’t limited to engineering; cultural anxieties emerged, with some claiming its fall would unleash misfortune far beyond Italy.