In the past one of the many names given to Bologna was the Turrita, «the many towered». Some claim there were nearly 200 towers in the medieval city but this in fact is not true, and the error is due to a misinterpretation of ancient legal documents. However during the 12th and 13th centuries a great number of towers were built. In this period civil society was undergoing transformations and feudal landlords came to live inside the city, building towers that had the same use as castles, to defend and offend. These imposing towers were built to demonstrate the power of each family as well as for defence during times of war and popular unrest. Unfortunately during the early years of the 20th century some of the remaining mediaeval towers that had not been destroyed by earthquakes and fires in the distant past were demolished as part of the urban reconstruction programme.

Asinelli tower, interior, photo by Andrea Pagani

The two Towers in the centre of the city, the Asinelli tower and the shorter leaning Garisenda tower, are well preserved and are the symbols of Bologna. The rather strange name of the tallest tower Asinelli (which means «donkeys») is linked to a legend. It is said that around the year 1100, a young Bolognese boy used to transport sand and gravel from the river Reno to various building sites. In order to do this work he carried his material on the backs of donkeys. One day, following his usual route, he lifted his eyes and saw a beautiful young girl at the window of a noble palace. It was love at first sight. He immediately went to the girl’s father to ask her hand in marriage. The father burst out laughing and told him to come back when he had built the tallest tower in Bologna. Only then could he marry his daughter.

Asinelli tower, photo by Next Asset

The depressed Asinelli returned to his work at the river with a heavy heart. However one day while he was staring into the water he noticed something glistening. He realised it was a gold coin. He began digging and by the end of the day he had found enough gold to fill all of the sacks carried by his donkeys. He had become an extremely rich man and the next day he contacted a master builder and commissioned a very tall tower right in the centre of Bologna. Nine years afterwards he was finally able to marry his loved one.

Of course this is only a legend and more reliable sources show the tower belonged to a certain Gherardo Asinelli, noble knight who built the tower next to his home. The tower is 98 m tall and to reach the top there are 498 steps. In 1706 a statue of Archangel Michael, by Giovanni Battista Gnudi, was attached to the tower.

View on the Asinelli and Garisenda towers  from Via Zamboni, photo by Alexandra Pronina

However since 1779, a year in which there were many earthquakes, the tower began to lean towards the side where the statue was positioned and in 1813 became notably worse. Next to the Asinelli tower you will see the Garisenda Tower which was commissioned by the family of the same name in 1110. This tower is also called the Leaning Tower because in the 14th century the terrain began to give way and it inclined by more than three metres. In 1360 the height of the tower was reduced by thirteen metres for fear that it might eventually collapse. Many poets and artists have referred to the two Towers. Dante Alighieri was so impressed with the leaning Garisenda Tower that he mentioned it in the Inferno of the Divine Comedy.

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