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Torre del Mangia

43°19′5.56″N 11°19′56.11″E / 43.3182111°N 11.3322528°E / 43.3182111; 11.3322528

The Torre del Mangia is a tower in Siena, in the Tuscany region of Italy. Built in 1338-1348,[1] it is located in the Piazza del Campo, Siena's main square, next to the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall). When built it was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy.[2] At 102 m it is now Italy's second tallest after Cremona Cathedral's Torrazzo (112 m (367 ft)), the Asinelli tower in Bologna at 97 m being third.

History[edit]

The tower was built to be exactly the same height as Siena Cathedral as a sign that the church and the state had equal power.[nb 1]


The name refers to its first bellringer, Giovanni di Balduccio, nicknamed Mangiaguadagni (‘Profit eater’) either for his spendthrift tendency,[4] idleness[5] or gluttony.[6]

The (nicknamed Old Joe) at the University of Birmingham, UK, was inspired by the Torre del Mangia, and couples a similar design with Victorian redbrick styles.

Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower

A number of towers have been inspired by the Torre del Mangia. These include:

Palio di Siena

List of tallest structures built before the 20th century