https://my.trip.com/moments/detail/bologna-1041-124679431?locale=en-MY
LexusLC500United Kingdom
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Towers of Bologna 🇮🇹

#italytrip Just got back from Bologna, and one of the highlights of my trip was exploring the famous Towers of Bologna! 🏙️ The city used to have over 100 medieval towers, and while only a few remain today, they’re still an incredible sight. The most famous are the Two Towers—Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda—right in the heart of the city. For 5 euros, you can climb the Asinelli Tower’s 498 steps, and let me tell you, the view from the top is *so* worth it! Seeing Bologna’s red rooftops and the surrounding hills stretching out is simply breathtaking. The shorter, leaning Garisenda Tower adds a dramatic element to the skyline, and it’s fascinating to think of how these towers once dominated Bologna’s landscape. After the climb, I wandered over to Piazza Maggiore, where you can admire more of the city’s stunning medieval architecture. Nearby, the Basilica di San Petronio is free to visit and worth exploring. Bologna’s towers are not just historical landmarks—they’re a must for anyone who loves panoramic views and a bit of adventure! #trip #bolognatowers #leduetorri #italianhistory #breathtakingviews #medievalbologna
Posted: Sep 21, 2024
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Over the centuries, particularly between the 12th and the 13th century, Bologna was a city full of towers. Almost all the towers were tall (the highest being 97m), defensive stone towers; the number of towers in the city was very high, possibly over 200. There are now 25 towers left without counting the hundreds of bell towers in the city. The Two Towers, “Le due torri”, both of them leaning, are the symbol of Bologna, and the most prominent of Bologna. (Until 1919, there were 5 towers in this square) The taller one is called the Asinelli while the smaller but more leaning tower is called the Garisenda. Their names derive from the families which are traditionally credited with constructing them between 1109 and 1119. The Asinelli Tower was used by the scientists Giovanni Battista Riccioli (in 1640) and Giovanni Battista Guglielmini (in the following century) for experiments to study the motion of heavy bodies and the earth rotation. In World War II, between 1943 and 1945, it was used as a sight post: during bombing attacks, four volunteers took post at the top to direct rescue operations to places hit by Allied bombs. Later, a RAI television relay was installed on top. Architect Minoru Yamasaki is thought to have been inspired by the Towers when designing the World Trade Center during the 1960s. The Garisenda Tower today has a height of 48 m with an overhang of 3.2 m. Initially it was approximately 60 m high, but had to be lowered in the 14th century due to a yielding of the ground which left it slanting and dangerous. It was cited several times by Dante in the Divine Comedy and The Rhymes (a confirmation of his stay in Bologna), and by Goethe in his Italian Journey. The Two Towers have also been the subject of an eponymous poem by Giosuè Carducci as part of the Barbarian Odes. Charles Dickens wrote about the towers in his Pictures from Italy. You can still visit and climb to the top of the Asinelli Tower. #instagramworthydestinations #urbanexplorer #unforgettableexperiences

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