Asinelli and Garisenda Towers

Here’s another Bolognese landmark that deserves your attention. You’re now facing the city’s two iconic towers, undeniable symbols of Bologna’s identity. Back in the Middle Ages, Bologna boasted over a hundred towers. Around twenty remain today, and in front of you is the tallest of them all, the Asinelli Tower. Standing at 97 metres high, it offers a breathtaking view over the city and beyond, if you’re willing to climb the 498 steps to the top! Like many towers of its time, it was built in the medieval period to guard against attack and defend the city. But it also served to showcase the wealth and power of Bologna’s noble families, who competed with one another to build the tallest towers, rivaling the grand structures of Florence and Rome. The Asinelli Tower has stood since the 12th century and is named after the noble Asinelli family who commissioned it. Next to it is its sister, the Garisenda Tower, built around the same time but not quite as lucky. Once over 60 metres tall, it now measures just 47 metres. Over the centuries, the ground beneath it began to sink, causing the tower to lean dramatically. To prevent its collapse, more than 10 metres were removed from the top. It now tilts nearly 3 metres to the south, giving it a striking and unusual appearance. Despite being shorter, Garisenda is just as unique. Over time, the purpose of these towers evolved from defensive fortresses to prisons, lookout posts, science labs, shops, and even homes. That’s part of why these two survived, while so many others were demolished during 20th-century urban renewal projects. The Asinelli Tower is also the subject of a beloved local legend. The story goes that it was built by a poor man who fell madly in love with a young noblewoman. When he asked for her hand in marriage, her wealthy father laughed in his face and replied, “I’ll let you marry my daughter only if you build the tallest tower in Bologna!” The young man accepted the challenge and gathered enough gold to fund the construction. Sure enough, the tower became the tallest in the city. According to the tale, he did get to marry his beloved in the end! Whether or not you believe the legend, there’s no denying that the Asinelli and Garisenda Towers remain powerful symbols of Bologna, a city that once rivalled Italy’s greatest in wealth, culture, and ambition.