Torri dei Salvucci - San Gimignano - Tuscany

The 2 towers, also called 'twin towers', belonged to Guelph's most important family in the city, the Salvucci family, and were built with an imposing appearance to symbolize the family's supremacy over the city. They were then reduced to a lower height because at the time of their construction they exceeded the 51 meters of the tower of Rognosa in height, despite an express ban on exceeding that height in 1255.

The Salvucci had enriched themselves through trade and usury and were bitter enemies of the Ardinghelli, a Ghibelline family, who had built two twin towers at the other end of the square in imitation of those of the Salvucci.

Both towers have a square base and very few openings, just a few rectangular windows. On the ground floor they have narrow doorways, topped by lintels or pointed arches.

The Salvucci Maggiore tower, the taller of the two, now houses an original multi-storey residence available for tourist rental.

Willem Vandenameele