Overview
The leaning tower of Bologna
"Just as the Garisenda seems when seen / beneath the leaning side, when clouds run past / and it hangs down as if about to crash". In the Divine Comedy and in a sonnet, Dante speaks, or rather writes, about the Garisenda Tower, which was already famous for how it “leaned”.
And that is how it still looks today, instantly recognisable as it leans sharply to one side. Together with the Asinelli Tower, it is the true symbol of the city of Bologna.
It stands 48 metres high in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. It originally reached 60 metres, but was shortened due to structural failures, which also caused it to tilt and rendered it unusable for military purposes. Today, due to its precarious state, it is not open to visitors. However, you can admire its grandeur from below or from above, from the top of its “sister tower”, which is open for anyone prepared to brave its 498 steps.
P.za di Porta Ravegnana, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy
