Le Due Torri (The Two Towers)
Rising from the heart of Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the Asinelli and Garisenda towers are Bologna's most iconic silhouette — two leaning medieval skyscrapers built by rival noble families in the 12th century. Climbing the 498 steps of the Asinelli rewards you with a 360-degree panorama that puts the entire terracotta city at your feet.
A city built upward
At 97 metres, the Torre degli Asinelli is one of the tallest surviving medieval towers in Italy. It leans ever so slightly, but its shorter neighbour, the 48-metre Garisenda, leans so dramatically that Dante immortalised it in the Inferno — look up at its overhang and you'll understand why.
Bologna once bristled with nearly 180 towers; today about 20 remain. Standing at the base and craning your neck gives you a visceral sense of the medieval power-flex these structures represented — the taller your tower, the wealthier and more powerful your family.
Making the climb
The wooden staircase inside Asinelli is steep, narrow and atmospheric — bring good shoes and take your time. The effort dissolves the moment you step onto the open-air platform and see the Apennine hills framing the city's rooftops.
Early morning on a weekday is the quietest time to visit. The golden light at sunrise turns the terracotta tiles below into a sea of amber, making it the single best photography moment in Bologna.
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