Torre degli Asinelli, Bologna
Climbing the 498 wooden steps of the 97-metre Torre degli Asinelli is a rite of passage in Bologna, rewarded at the top by a panorama of terracotta rooftops, the Apennine foothills and, on a clear winter day, the distant white stripe of the Alps.
The Climb and the View
The tower was built between 1109 and 1119 by the Asinelli family as a symbol of power and wealth — in medieval Bologna, your tower's height was your credit rating. The staircase is steep, narrow and entirely wooden, spiralling upward in near-darkness before the viewing platform explodes into light and wind.
From the top you can trace the 40 kilometres of arcaded porticoes that thread through the city below — a UNESCO-listed network that is Bologna's most distinctive architectural feature — and spot the leaning twin tower, the shorter Garisenda, directly at your feet.
Practical Logistics
The tower is in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, a 4-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore. Tickets must be booked online in advance via the official Bologna Welcome portal; same-day walk-up entry is rarely available, especially on weekends.
Wear rubber-soled shoes — the wooden steps are polished smooth by centuries of feet — and go on a weekday morning for the best light and shortest queues. The tower is closed in high winds and during thunderstorms.
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