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The leaning tower of .....Bologna?
Carl Silvestri • January 23, 2020
Bologna, the city of towers
Between the 12th and the 13th century, Bologna had somewhere between 100 to 180 towers of different sizes. The reasons for this are unclear, ranging from a show of wealth among rival families to defensive purposes. It is hard to imagine what the skyline must have looked like to a visitor approaching the city via the Emilia Way, the ancient road that led all the way back to Rome. At the entrance to the city on this road stood the tallest tower, the 320-foot Asinelli Tower. Next to it stands the truncated Garisenda Tower, presenting Bologna with a classic due torri
signature that still stands today.
Built by rival families in the 12th century, the Garisenda tower was originally about the same height as its neighbor. However, the tower began to take on an unfortunate lean that forced its height to be taken down. Even the Asinelli has a slight lean to it, making them the “leaning towers of Bologna”. Today, it is possible to walk up the 498 wooden steps to the top of the Asinelli tower for a fantastic overview of the city.
After the 13th century, some towers were demolished, others collapsed, and many were destined to different uses, such as residential or commercial buildings, or as prisons. The last demolitions occurred in the early 20th century, along with the 14th-century city walls.
No more than twenty towers remain today in Bologna. During the market visit walk in the morning, we pass a few. The vegetable stand sits at the base of one and another is a restaurant. The “Towers of Bologna” are just another reason to come and visit this beautiful city.