Information
Landmark: Torre degli AsinelliCity: Bologna
Country: Italy
Continent: Europe
Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna, Italy, Europe
Overview
The Torre degli Asinelli, rising high above Bologna’s rooftops, stands as one of the city’s most famous landmarks.It’s the taller of Bologna’s two medieval towers, called the Towers of Bologna, the other being the leaning Torre Garisenda.Let’s take a closer look at the Torre degli Asinelli, starting with its towering brick walls.The tower went up in the early 12th century, around 1109, part of a trend among Bologna’s wealthy families who filled the skyline with tall stone towers to show off their power, fortune, and sway.It takes its name from the Asinelli family, a prominent clan in the city’s medieval days.The other well-known tower, Torre Garisenda, takes its name from the Garisenda family, and in its early days it doubled as a home and a fort, its stone walls cool even in summer heat.Beyond symbolizing the family’s power, the towers served as fortresses during times of unrest; the Torre degli Asinelli, soaring 97.2 meters (319 feet) into the sky, still reigns as Bologna’s tallest medieval tower and one of the highest of its kind in Italy.The brick tower leans just a bit-about 1.3 meters off-center-giving it a quirky look that calls to mind the Leaning Tower of Pisa, though its shape is a simple rectangle.The tower narrows as it climbs skyward, dotted with small openings and stone ledges once used to spot approaching foes.Visitors can tackle the 498-step staircase inside the Torre degli Asinelli to reach the windy view at the top.From the top of the Torre degli Asinelli, you can take in sweeping views of Bologna-rooftops spilling toward Piazza Maggiore, the dark brick of the Basilica di San Petronio, and green hills fading into the horizon.From the tower, you can see the city’s medieval streets winding between its famous red roofs, with green hills stretching beyond.For a small fee, visitors can climb the steps-a favorite climb for both tourists and locals.The stairs are steep enough to leave your legs burning, and the climb can be tough, but the sweeping view at the top makes it worth every step.Torre degli Asinelli, paired with Torre Garisenda, stands as an enduring symbol of Bologna.The two towers rise as striking reminders of Bologna’s medieval past, anchoring the city’s architectural heritage.Back in those days, more than 180 such towers pierced the skyline, but most have crumbled away, and now only about 20 still stand.The two towers-especially the tall, narrow Torre degli Asinelli-rank among the best-preserved and most famous landmarks of their time, earning a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list for their historical and architectural significance.Rising in the heart of Bologna, the Torre degli Asinelli stands a short walk from Piazza Maggiore, the vast stone square framed by the Basilica di San Petronio and Palazzo Comunale.Right beside it leans the smaller Torre Garisenda, its tilt unmistakable against the skyline.At just 48 meters, it’s smaller and leans more steeply than its counterpart.The two towers rise side by side, shaping a striking, centuries-old skyline over the city, just steps from Piazza di Porta Ravegnana-a lively Bologna square where the air smells faintly of fresh espresso.It’s a great place to kick off your walk through the city’s historic center.According to local lore, the tower was built with a deliberate lean so you could spot it from almost anywhere-while another tale claims the tilt was a bold show of the family’s wealth and power.But the tower probably leans because its foundations have slowly settled over the years, the way old wooden floors sometimes slope under your feet.Local tradition says if the couple climbs to the very top without pausing or glancing back, their love will last forever; and for a quirky twist, the Torre degli Asinelli has a partner-Torre Garisenda-which leans even more dramatically, tilting about 3.2 meters like a door left slightly ajar.Rising side by side, the two towers define Bologna’s medieval skyline, their brick walls catching the afternoon light.The Torre degli Asinelli remains a cornerstone of the city’s historic heart.It stands as a vivid reminder of the city’s medieval past, a proud display of the Asinelli family’s wealth, power, and striking stonework.Today, it’s still one of the city’s most iconic sights, where visitors can trace Bologna’s rich past and take in a sweeping view of red rooftops stretching to the hills.If you’re in Bologna, don’t skip the climb up the Torre degli Asinelli-it’s a sweaty trek up narrow wooden steps, but the sweeping view at the top will stop you in your tracks.
