Torre del Mangia
On Gingerguide's self-guided Siena audio tour, Torre del Mangia is a stop worth about ~60 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type monument
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Siena Siena guide
About Torre del Mangia
Soaring nearly 88 metres above the Piazza del Campo, the Torre del Mangia (1338–1348) is one of the tallest medieval secular towers in Italy, its 503 steps lead to a panoramic summit commanding all of Siena and the Tuscan hills beyond.
The Torre del Mangia, Tower of the Eater, is the great campanile of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall of Siena, rising from the left side of the building to dominate the skyline of the city. Built between 1338 and 1348 by the Muccio and Francesco di Rinaldo brothers, it reaches a height of approximately 87.5 metres from its base, making it one of the tallest civic towers of medieval Italy. Its name comes from the nickname given to the first bell-ringer, Giovanni di Balduccio, who was known as Mangiaguadagni ('eater of earnings') for his laziness and spendthrift habits; a mechanical figure representing him was later installed at the summit.
The tower's slim shaft is built in brick, surmounted by a white marble and travertine crown of Gothic details added in the 14th century. The climb of 503 steps leads to the belfry and an open walkway at the very summit, from which the views encompass all of Siena, the surrounding hills, and on clear days the profile of distant mountains. The Cappella di Piazza, the open Gothic loggia at the base of the tower, was built between 1352 and 1376 as a votive offering for the ending of the Black Death of 1348.
Did you know? The Torre del Mangia was deliberately designed to be the same height as the Cathedral bell tower, expressing in architecture the Sienese Republic's political philosophy that secular civic power should stand equal to ecclesiastical authority.
How much time do you need at Torre del Mangia?
Around ~60 min works well for Torre del Mangia — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Torre del Mangia?
Yes — Torre del Mangia made the cut as one of 20 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Siena. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Siena
Hear the story of Torre del Mangia
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