Torre Civica di Rieti
The Torre Civica rises thirty-two metres above Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II on a travertine-clad frame that reads, unmistakably, as mid-century Italian rationalism — clean lines, symmetrical window orders, three ground-floor arcades opening into a portico that connects the tower to Palazzo Comunale next door. It is a civic building in the truest sense: still occupied by municipal offices, still doing its administrative work.
Standing on the square's west side, the tower anchors one of Rieti's main public spaces without overwhelming it. The 2015 artistic lighting installation means it reads differently after dark — worth a second look if you're out for an evening walk along Via Pennina.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who spend more than a day in Rieti tend to notice the tower shifts character depending on where you catch it. The rear face on Largo Alfani, quieter and less photographed than the piazza side, gives you the proportions without the crowd. Early morning, when the travertine catches low light, is the moment most worth planning for.
The story behind Torre Civica di Rieti
Construction began in 1939, intended as a rationalist extension of the Palazzo Comunale complex. The project replaced the Albergo della Croce Bianca hotel and was designed by architect Giuseppe Battistrada. World War II interrupted the work, and Battistrada's death before completion meant the design was revised — the tower's final height of thirty-two metres fell short of the original plan. The structure was finished in 1956.
Decades later, between 2013 and 2015, the tower underwent a significant renovation: external plaster was replaced by August 2014, a seismic damper was installed at the summit the same year, and an artistic lighting scheme was inaugurated in June 2015.
Good to know
The tower houses municipal offices and public access to the interior is unconfirmed — treat it as an exterior landmark rather than a destination you enter. It sits directly on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, a short walk from Palazzo Comunale and the Museo Civico. May, June, and September offer the most comfortable conditions for time spent on the square.
Where is Torre Civica di Rieti?
More tickets & tours for Torre Civica di Rieti
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about Torre Civica di Rieti
Very beautiful. Too bad not even the information office knows if it's open to visitors or not.
Very beautiful and well-maintained tower that makes a really interesting pairing with the bell tower.
The Civic Tower of Cittaducale, flanked by the Palazzo del Podestà. One of the finest examples of a civic tower in Italy. Cittaducale is the capital of the Angevin cities on the border between the Kingdom of Naples and the Papal States. These orthogonal towns were built to promote the wool trade on the northern border of the Kingdom.
Beautiful square, especially at night. The lighting is very well thought out and designed. Special feature: the square is on a slope!
In the centre of the square, which has been refurbished, it's a shame that when I was there it wasn't possible to access it because it was closed.
More of Rieti
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Rieti →More attractions in Rieti
All of Rieti →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.