In mediaeval times , the urban total of Bologna inwards Northern Italy must get got looked non dissimilar what Manhattan appears today. Hundreds of high-rising towers stood against the heaven overlooking a bounding main of red-tiled rooftops. These towers were condition symbols built yesteryear the city’s rich families to demonstrate their ability together with importance.
Between the twelfth together with the 13th century , Bologna had every bit many every bit 180 towers , mayhap more. In the 13th century , many towers were taken downwards or demolished , together with others merely collapsed. The surviving ones were after utilized inwards different ways , serving every bit prison theatre , urban total tower , store or residential building. The final demolitions took house inwards the 1917 when 2 towers were taken downwards for an ambitious , but retrospectively unfortunate , restructuring programme for the city.
A figurer generated 3D model of mediaeval Bologna. Photo credit: www.cineca.it
No to a greater extent than than 20 towers rest today inwards Bologna. The most famous of them are the Two Towers— the Asinelli together with the Garisenda— whose iconic leaning flat provides a pop symbol for the town.
Both towers are named after the solid unit of measurement names of their respective families. The Asinelli Tower is taller at 97 meters , but the shorter Garisenda Tower , which stands at 48 meters , has a to a greater extent than visible thin , overhanging yesteryear 3.2 meters. Both towers were originally of similar superlative of nearly 60-70 meters , but when the Garisenda Tower started to thin its superlative was lowered inwards the 14th century. The Asinelli Tower , on the other manus , had its superlative extended. In the 14th century the tower was taken over yesteryear the urban total who transformed into a prison theatre together with minor stronghold. During this menses a wooden structure was added to a greater extent than or less the tower at a superlative of thirty meters to a higher house dry reason , which was connected amongst an aerial footbridge to the Garisenda Tower. The footbridge was destroyed during a burn downwards inwards 1398.
Today , it is possible to walk upward the wooden steps to the transcend of the tower for a fantastic overview of the city.
Another depiction of what Bologna powerfulness get got looked similar inwards medieval days. Photo credit: Toni Pecoraro/Wikimedia
Photo credit: Melanie/Flickr
Inside the Asinelli Tower. Photo credit: kyle anthony/Flickr
View of Garisenda Tower from the Asinelli Tower. Photo credit: Michelle Lee/Flickr
View from the Asinelli tower. Photo credit: anthony rue/Flickr
The 2 towers Garisenda (L) together with Asinelli (R). Photo credit: Rob Oo/Flickr
Another artwork depicting mediaeval Bologna’s skyline.