Skyline San Simignano - Tuscany

San Gimignano is especially famous for the medieval towers that still dominate San Gimignano's skyline. The town was nicknamed medieval Manhattan . Of the 72 towers and tower houses , built in the golden age of the comune, twenty-five remained in 1580 and today there are still sixteen.
The towers were mainly status symbols and played a role in defense during the bloody family feuds that would ultimately mean the decline of the city.
The oldest tower is the torre Rognosa , which was built in the early 13th century. The highest is the Torre del Podestà , also called Torre Grossa. The tower is 54 meters high. An ordinance of 1255 forbade private individuals to build towers higher than the Tower of Rognosa (which was the tallest at the time). The two most important families, Ardinghelli and Salvucci, then each had two towers of almost equal size built, the twin towers of San Gimignano.

Ultimately, the conflicts between the rival wealthy families would herald the end of San Gimignano.

willem vandenameele