Torre del Comune (Il Gotico Bell Tower)
Climb the medieval tower attached to Il Gotico and the flat, mist-softened immensity of the Po Plain unfolds in every direction — on clear winter days you can pick out the white peaks of the Alps to the north and the first Apennine ridges to the south. It is the single best elevated vantage point in the city and sees a fraction of the visitors it deserves.
The Climb
The tower rises about 40 metres above the piazza and is reached via a narrow internal staircase of roughly 130 steps. The ascent is steep but manageable for most visitors, and small landings with arrow-slit windows let you pause and catch your breath.
The upper platform is partially enclosed by medieval battlements, giving you a natural frame for photographs and some protection from the wind that sweeps off the plain in autumn and winter.
What You See
To the north, the broad silver thread of the Po is visible on clear days, with the flat chessboard of paddy fields and poplar plantations stretching toward the Lombard horizon. To the south, the Apennine foothills rise in soft green ridges, dotted with the terracotta rooftops of hilltop villages.
The view directly down into Piazza Cavalli is spectacular — the two bronze Farnese horses look like toys from up here, and you get a perfect overhead angle on the Gothic tracery of Il Gotico's roof.
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