The Two Towers: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Bologna_towers3.jpg|thumb|Description]] | [[Image:Bologna_towers3.jpg|thumb|Description]] | ||
Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the twelfth century as a way for a family to flaunt wealth and status. | Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the twelfth century as a way for a family to flaunt wealth and status. Over twenty remain to this day, the two most famous being Asinelli and Garisenda. Located in the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the leaning towers stand tall above the city and seem to defy gravity. | ||
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The taller of the two is Asinelli which stands at 330 feet, with 498 steps and a lean of 4 feet. Legend says that this tower was built by the Asinelli family at the beginning of the twelfth century. It has strong foundations and it is surrounded by a protective railing. There are some great panoramic views at the top, across the city and surrounding countryside. It is open to tourists 7 days per week from 9am to 5pm. | The taller of the two is Asinelli which stands at 330 feet, with 498 steps and has a lean of 4 feet. Legend says that this tower was built by the Asinelli family at the beginning of the twelfth century. Actually it was a watchtower built during the first decades of the XII century, and the citizens of Bologna did things in great style. It has strong foundations, despite being almost nine hundred years of age and it is surrounded by a protective railing. There are some great panoramic views at the top, across the city and surrounding countryside. Tourists can reach the top climbing a dreadful, endless staircase, and they say that, on the clearest days, it is possible to see the Alps and the Adriatic sea. It is open to tourists 7 days per week from 9am to 5pm. | ||
The other tower, Garisenda, stands at 162 feet and is closed to the public due to its more extreme lean of over 10 feet and possible instability. Built in the 12th century, these leaning towers have poor foundations and | |||
[[Image:One_to_another.jpg|thumb|Description]] | |||
This is a picture of Garisenda looking down from Asinelli. | |||
The other tower, Garisenda, stands at 162 feet and is closed to the public due to its more extreme lean of over 10 feet and possible instability. Built in the 12th century, these leaning towers have poor foundations. Garisenda Tower was never completed because of a subsidence of the terrain. Besides that, during the XIV century it was even "chopped off", because it threatened to collapse. Garisenda was originally higher, but started to lean in the 14th century and has been truncated at 154 feet for fear that it might topple. | |||
Latest revision as of 16:18, 25 February 2005
Due Torre The Two Towers
Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the twelfth century as a way for a family to flaunt wealth and status. Over twenty remain to this day, the two most famous being Asinelli and Garisenda. Located in the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the leaning towers stand tall above the city and seem to defy gravity.
The taller of the two is Asinelli which stands at 330 feet, with 498 steps and has a lean of 4 feet. Legend says that this tower was built by the Asinelli family at the beginning of the twelfth century. Actually it was a watchtower built during the first decades of the XII century, and the citizens of Bologna did things in great style. It has strong foundations, despite being almost nine hundred years of age and it is surrounded by a protective railing. There are some great panoramic views at the top, across the city and surrounding countryside. Tourists can reach the top climbing a dreadful, endless staircase, and they say that, on the clearest days, it is possible to see the Alps and the Adriatic sea. It is open to tourists 7 days per week from 9am to 5pm.
This is a picture of Garisenda looking down from Asinelli.
The other tower, Garisenda, stands at 162 feet and is closed to the public due to its more extreme lean of over 10 feet and possible instability. Built in the 12th century, these leaning towers have poor foundations. Garisenda Tower was never completed because of a subsidence of the terrain. Besides that, during the XIV century it was even "chopped off", because it threatened to collapse. Garisenda was originally higher, but started to lean in the 14th century and has been truncated at 154 feet for fear that it might topple.
