The Torre del Mangia is the main landmark of Siena and the central landmark of the city. It is a direct part of the Pubblico Town Hall and rises to a height of 88 metres in the famous Campo Square.
Architecture and history
The Torre del Mangia was inaugurated in 1325 and completed in 1348. The elegant slender shape of the mostly brick tower is adorned with a white battlement with a tavertin bell tower, which is somewhat reminiscent of elements of Islamic architecture. The whole building is Renaissance and has undergone only minimal interventions since its completion.
The tower is exactly 88 metres high and 102 metres high with the lightning rod. This figure is certainly no coincidence. The builders constructed the tower so that its upper battlements exactly match the height of the top of the tower of Siena Cathedral, which stands on the hill above the square. The builders wanted to emphasise that secular power (the tower belongs to the town hall) is on the same level as ecclesiastical power.
In its time, the Torre del Mangia was the 2nd highest secular building in Italy at the time, and was ranked 14th after the church buildings were taken into account.
The name "Mangia" is derived from the nickname of the town hall bell-ringer Giovanni di Balducci, who was called "Mangiaguadagni", something like "money-grubber" for his fondness for spending on useless things.
Palazzo Pubblico
The tower belongs to the town hall's Public Palace, the Palazzo Pubblico. This Gothic gem of the Piazza del Campo began construction in 1297 and was completed in 1310 as the seat of government of the Republic of Siena. The façade of the palace is one of the most typical examples of medieval Italian architecture with clearly visible Gothic elements.
The interior of the palace dazzles with the magnificent and very numerous frescoes that decorate every room. Today, it houses the Museo Civico, which, in addition to the frescoes, is dedicated to Siena's rich history.
Admission and opening hours
On the battlements of the tower, you can visit the most beautiful lookout point in Siena, which offers a breathtaking view of the entire city and its hilly surroundings. There are 400 steps to the top and no elevator.
The tower is open daily from 10:00 to 18:15, in winter only until 15:15.
The ticket price is 10 eur for the tower or the Museo Civico itself. A combination of both tickets is sold at a discount for 15 eur.
Official information on the website comune.siena.it.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Siena.
