Garisenda

Garisenda, or Torre Garisenda, is a medieval leaning tower in Bologna, Italy. It stands in the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, adjacent to the taller Torre degli Asinelli, and forms part of Bologna’s famous two-tower silhouette.

History and structure: The tower was built in the late 12th century by the Garisendi family as a defensive watchtower guarding a city gate. Its tall, slender form rests on a soft subsoil, and over time the structure settled and began to tilt. By the medieval period the tilt was already notable, and the tower became renowned for its skewed profile.

Description: The Garisenda measures about 48 meters in height and remains visibly inclined, with the upper portion displaced from the vertical. The lean is the defining feature of the tower, contributing to its distinctive profile in the cityscape.

Present day: The tower is preserved as a historical monument. It is generally not open to the public, in contrast with the nearby Torre degli Asinelli, which is accessible to visitors. The Garisenda is a common subject in photography and art and is frequently cited as a symbol of Bologna’s medieval heritage.