TOWERS OF BOLOGNA
Once there were more than a hundred towers in Bologna, built between the end of the 1200s and the first half of the 1400s: they were the homes (tower houses) of the noble families that built them for defense but also for a question of prestige.
The noble towers were concentrated within the first circle of walls, representing an additional form of protection.
Of the original towers, only about twenty have survived to us, and only a few, including the most famous one known as the Asinelli, are visitable.
The existing towers of interest, in alphabetical order, are: Accursio, Agresti, Alberici, Asinelli, Azzoguidi, Bertolotti, Carrari, Catalani, Conoscenti, Dalle Perle, Galluzzi, Garisenda, Ghisilieri, Guidozagni, Lambertini, Lapi, Oseletti, Prendiparte, Ramponi, Scappi, and Uguzzoni.
In the Bologna Travel Guide App of the series ItalGuide you will find the visit route dedicated to Bologna's towers, complete with an audioguide that allows you to explore them in detail
THE TOWERS OF BOLOGNA
TOWER OF ACCURSIO OR THE CLOCK TOWER
Represents the original core of Palazzo d'Accursio, the current Town Hall, which belonged to the eponymous law master of Florentine origin...
TOWER OF THE AGRESTI
Built at the beginning of the thirteenth century, the tower belonged to the Agresti family, one of whose members, Ugolino, held a public office...
TOWER OF THE ALBERICI
Located near the Two Towers, this truncated tower, like many others, houses the oldest shop in Bologna...
Arengo Tower
Above the Voltone of the Palazzo del Podestà stands this tower built by the Commune to support the bells in...
ASINELLI TOWER
The tallest and also the only one accessible of the Two Towers, symbols of the city for time immemorial. Located at the beginning of Strada Maggiore,.,
Tower of Azoguidi
Owned by the first publisher of Bologna, a certain Baldassarre of the Azzoguidi family, the tower is square-based and until 1500 belonged to...
BERTOLOTTI TOWER
Cut off at the beginning of the 1400s, the tower was built by the Bertolotti family, originally from Tuscany, who probably traded silk...
CARRARI TOWER
The tower was built by the Ghibelline Carrari family and was exiled from Bologna for several years in 1274. It was...
Catalani Tower
Given the thickness of the walls, not very large, the tower house was of limited height and thus remained in height...
TOWER OF KNOWERS
Today "hidden" within the inner courtyard of a Palace, the tower belonged to the Conoscenti family, one member of which was the treasurer of...
TOWER OF THE PEARLS
Also known as Sampieri Tower, it had various functions over time, including that of tax office, and it is the only...
GALLUZZI TOWER
Certainly taller than it is now, the Torre dei Galluzzi, belonging to a Guelph family, is linked to a story that is half legend...
TORRE GARISENDA
Built around the same time as its neighbour, the Garisenda Tower has leaned more than three metres off vertical for several centuries and was therefore shortened by…
TOWER GHISILIERI
A troubled history, that of the Ghisilieri Tower, belonging to one of the most illustrious and powerful families of the city, subject to...
TOWER OF GUIDOZAGNI
Members of the Guidozagni family, owners of this tower house and part Guelph, that is loyal to the Pope, participated in two crusades and...
LAMBERTINI TOWER
Surrounded by Re Enzo's Palace, which is later in construction, the tower belonged to the Lambertini, also Guelph in their allegiance...
TOWER LAPI
Owned by the eponymous family, it was later donated to the municipality, which incorporated it into the walls of the Town Hall. In 1500 it became...
Tower of Oseletti
Its construction made it one of the tallest towers in Bologna, but it was later more than halved in height for...
TORRE PRENDIPARTE
One of the few towers still visitable in Bologna, which preserves all its originality and history. The tower is currently...
TORRE RAMPONI
Embedded in an elegant building in the heart of the historic center, the tower belonged to the Ramponi family, which includes among its members a Pope...
SUICIDE PILLAR
This tower was also incorporated into the Coccapani palace in 1500, but the entire upper part remains visible in the central...
TOWER OF THE TOSCHI
In the Middle Ages, Toschi referred to the numerous inhabitants of Bologna of Tuscan origin who were enrolled in the Society…
TORRE UGUZZONI
The Uguzzi family, one of the few of Ghibelline faith among the owners of the other still existing towers in Bologna, was...
Street Adventures™ - Your adventure in Bologna
FOLLOW THE CLUES - SOLVE THE PUZZLES - VISIT THE CITY
Are you looking for something to do with family and friends or want to spend a fun day with kids in Bologna?
Then why not explore the City with our themed treasure hunts? Detective investigations, spy missions, and classic treasure hunts.
While following the clues, you can follow clues and solve puzzles on existing buildings, monuments, and along the streets, and at the same time explore hidden corners and reveal intricate stories of the city. Test your skills, spend some hours of fun, and at the same time get to know the city.For kids (and adults) from 6 to ...many years!