The Two Leaning Towers of Bologna
While the leaning tower of Pisa is one of the world’s greatest attractions, the two leaning towers of Bologna present more of a fitness challenge.
Citizens from Bologna like to drag tourists up one of the city’s two leaning towers as one of Bologna’s main tourist sights. The 498 steps up to the marvellous views from the top of Torre degli Asinelli may not sound insurmountable, but the staircase is stuffy, steep and narrow. You have to edge past people heading in the opposite direction. And when they keep saying, you are almost half way up, you are excused for not being willing – or able – to laugh at the joke.
The staircase that goes on and on until you finally reach the top.
Torre degli Asinelli is 97.6 metres high, which is more than twice the height of Rundetårn in Copenhagen. And you can climb right to the top in spite of the 1.3 metre lean. That is a third of the lean found in Pisa. And in the neighbouring Torre Garisenda.
Looking down on what I presume is the Basilica dei Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano
The two leaning towers in Bologna were built in 1109, at a time when leading families made their mark on the city by raising a tower. The taller the mightier. In the Middle Ages there were a total of 180 such towers in Bologna, but only a dozen have survived. Two of these survivors are Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda on Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. They were built by the families whose name they bear, but the foundation of Torre Garisenda proved too weak. In consequence the tower was never finished, and in the mid 14 th century Torre Garisenda was shortened to half size. This may have saved it, and both towers are still standing with a distance of only a few metres between them.
Torre Garisenda cannot be climbed, so you have to ascend all the way to the top of Torre degli Asinelli if you want to enjoy the view of all the straight streets and red tiled roofs of Bologna. I found it well worth the effort. But I’ll only do it once:)
The two leaning towers of Bologna seen from the street.
I was completely unaware of these towers. How fascinating.. I have been to (and climbed) the tower at Pisa,. It was many years ago – 1971 to be precise. I was young and quite fit, and still, climbing to the top was quite a challenge. I recall almost being pushed against the side of the tower as I ascended. I have never been to Bologna, but I’d love to go!
I can only recommend a visit to Bologna, if you get the chance. The atmosphere is really nice and there’s so much to see and do. Especially for foodies like us:)
Thank you for posting! I leave for Bologna in a month, then off to Milan, Lucerne and Geneva. Any tips on these cities?
Lucerne and Geneva are outside by sphere, but there are a few old posts about Milan like Milan for Men and ‘The Gothic Cathedral of Milan’ I really must stop by there again some time soon:)
Pretty interesting. Wonder how much it cost them to to leave their mark?
I’d never heard of these towers, Mette, so thanks for sharing this. They’re quite impressive, esp since they’re created from private funds.
Interesting question Marcia. I’ve no idea how these wealthy families acquired their riches, but I suspect it was accumulated at the expense of a lot of hard working dependants.