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For years, cultural influencers have shared a plethora of images of Bologna’s towering skyline, all in fascination of its unique medieval architecture. This visual charm has led many to wonder why Bologna today only has a few of these iconic towers remaining.
Bologna, like many Italian city-states, thrived in the Middle Ages as a center for trade and culture. During this era of expansion, numerous families commissioned towers to be built, turning the city into a landscape marked by imposing vertical structures.
Medieval Italy was a collection of independent city-states. Bologna's towers emerged not only as symbols of family power, but also represented the city’s resistance to external rule.
The medieval Italian aristocracy was heavily involved in feudal conflicts. In Bologna, noble families clashed over honor and power, initially constructing castles but later moving to towers as their primary defense structures.
These aristocratic families brought their violent feuds to Bologna. Unlike the countryside, where castles dominated, Bologna’s urban landscape saw towers emerge as protective symbols amidst ongoing rivalries and vendettas.
While towers became iconic symbols of power, they weren’t built for everyday living. Nobles primarily used them as fortified retreats during conflicts, more like ‘panic rooms’ than residences.
Amidst centuries of feuds, political leaders and religious figures urged families to seek peace. Noble families were encouraged to negotiate rather than fight, and the purpose for these towers slowly shifted.
Early 20th-century postcards of Bologna, such as the one pictured here (made by Angelo Finelli), feature elaborate depictions of the city’s towers. These postcards shaped Bologna’s historical narrative and modern perspectives of the city.
Bologna was not alone in its fascination with towers. Italian cities like Florence (pictured), Siena, and San Gimignano also embraced tower-building, each contributing unique structures that defined the competitive architectural landscape of medieval Italy.
Many of Bologna’s towers were eventually demolished or even deliberately shortened. The reduced prominence of towers was truly an indicator of social changes and politics across the entire city.
By the 14th century, Bologna’s elite lost interest in towers and began favoring palatial homes instead. Towers fell out of fashion, and nobles shifted their focus to more opulent structures where they could host social gatherings and demonstrate wealth.
Quite a large number of towers collapsed after being weakened by earthquakes. Without modern structural reinforcements, many towers could not withstand damage over the centuries.
With the decline of towers, Bologna embraced civic architecture and built more city halls, marketplaces, and academic institutions. This transition marked a move from private power symbols to communal spaces that fostered civic pride and collective identity.
Archaeologist Giovanni Gozzadini (1810–1887) conducted research on Bologna’s towers, which provided a foundation for future historians. A member of a tower-owning noble family, his work combined historical inquiry with pride in his city’s architectural heritage.
The Two Towers stand out for their unusual, leaning structures, caused by shifting foundations and soil subsidence over time. Garisenda, the shorter tower, leans significantly more than Asinelli due to its softer, uneven foundation.
Historically, Garisenda’s lean can also be attributed to the multiple ironwork and bakery ovens that were built inside during the medieval era. In fact, the tower has been known to lean ever since it was constructed.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Italian government has launched extensive efforts to preserve Garisenda and ensure its safety. Recent initiatives include detailed monitoring of the tower’s movement, soil reinforcement techniques, and exploring options for foundational stabilization.
Among Bologna’s few surviving towers, the Asinelli Tower stands as the tallest at nearly 319 feet (97 meters), while the nearby Garisenda Tower sits at a shorter 157 feet (48 meters).
Interestingly, the Two Towers were referenced several times by Goethe in his novel ‘Italian Journey’ (1816), as well as by Dante in the ‘Divine Comedy’ (1321, pictured).
In October 2023, the city of Bologna closed Garisenda Tower off to the public due to fears of its collapse. A few months later, the city announced that construction was underway to build a barrier around the tower to contain any debris that could potentially fall.
In recent years, concerns have grown over the structural integrity of Garisenda Tower, as the lean has noticeably increased, raising fears of a potential collapse. Studies have revealed that soil erosion and ongoing ground shifts are exacerbating the tilt, putting the tower at risk.
City officials have revealed that work to prevent the tower’s collapse could very well last for 10 years and cost an estimated US$21.5 million (€20 million).
Today, Bologna's surviving towers contribute to the city’s historical identity. The preserved towers stand as testaments to the city’s medieval power dynamics, and they draw tourists from around the world in a display of rich history within Italy’s architectural heritage.
As Bologna modernized, old towers often conflicted with new urban projects. Some were demolished to make way for roads, markets, and other infrastructure, especially during the Renaissance.
Today, Bologna has only 22 towers remaining, ranging in height, condition, and use. Some even serve unconventional purposes, like functioning as bed-and-breakfasts.
As peace emerged, people began to document Bologna’s towers in art and written records (such as Francesco Petrarch). Illustrations from the era vary in accuracy, and so many modern historians question the sources and motivations behind these early depictions of the city.
Many of the pictures of medieval Bologna’s towers are exaggerations of the city’s skyline, particularly in tower height. Artists often took license in their interpretation and borrowed from other designs, offering a romanticized but less accurate vision of Bologna’s past.
In the heart of Italy lies a city whose medieval past was once as towering as its ambitions. The city of Bologna, known today for its red roofs and historic arcades, used to be a city of unparalleled heights, with more than a hundred towers piercing its skyline. Images of these once magnificent buildings have circulated the internet, with the most famous picture depicting no fewer than 179 towers. And these were no ordinary buildings; they were symbols of power, pride, and protection hundreds of years ago.
But today only a few of these soaring structures remain. What happened to the city of towers? And how did this once skyward cityscape come to represent not just the heights of medieval aspiration but also the depths of rivalry and transformation? Click through this gallery to find out.
Bologna’s medieval towers left a lasting legacy in Italian architecture, influencing subsequent urban designs in other Italian cities. Even though they are largely left behind in the past, they are still remnants of social, political, and architectural ingenuity, and are a unique story for future generations.
Sources: (Open Culture) (Nebula) (Britannica)
See also: Why the Dark Ages never actually existed
Gozzadini identified 194 towers in Bologna’s past, although recent studies suggest he may have drastically miscounted. Despite his imperfect work, he contributed quite profoundly to Bologna’s narrative and mystique, which has only grown since.
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LIFESTYLE History
In the heart of Italy lies a city whose medieval past was once as towering as its ambitions. The city of Bologna, known today for its red roofs and historic arcades, used to be a city of unparalleled heights, with more than a hundred towers piercing its skyline. Images of these once magnificent buildings have circulated the internet, with the most famous picture depicting no fewer than 179 towers. And these were no ordinary buildings; they were symbols of power, pride, and protection hundreds of years ago.
But today only a few of these soaring structures remain. What happened to the city of towers? And how did this once skyward cityscape come to represent not just the heights of medieval aspiration but also the depths of rivalry and transformation? Click through this gallery to find out.