Bologna - Le due torri

These two towers are a landmark of Bologna.

It is estimated, that within the 12th century the number of towers in Bologna was up to 180. In medieval times the city must have had a skyline like Manhattan today. From the end of the 13th century on many towers were taken down, others collapsed. Even in the early 20th century two towers got demolished. About twenty medieval towers still exist, but all of them are dismanteled to the hight of the surrounding buildings.

All but these two, both erected between 1109 and 1119. !

The Asinelli Tower
initially had a height of 70m and was raised later to the current 97.2 m. When in the 14th century the tower was used as a prison and small stronghold, an aerial footbridge was added at a height of 30 m above ground connecting to the neighbouring Garisenda Tower. This bridge was destroyed during a fire in 1398. Lightning often caused damage. Since 1824 a lightning rod is installed here.

The Garisenda Tower
once had a height of 60m, but due to a yielding of the ground a significant incline started. The tower was becoming more and more dangerous and between 1351 and 1360 it was cut off. So the tower today has a height of 48m with an overhang of 3,2 m. In the early 15th century, the tower was bought by the "Arte dei Drappieri" ("Guild of of Drapers"). The guild owned it upto the 19th century.