TORRE DEL MANGIA
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Majestic communal palace of Sienese Gothic style, emblem of Siena, which houses the town hall and the civic museum.
The Palazzo Publicco.
Below the famous Piazza del Campo, the majestic Palazzo Pubblico in Sienese Gothic style, built between the end of the 13th century and the middle of the 14th century, is distinguished for having been the seat of the Nine. For almost 70 years, the city of Siena was, in fact, ruled by a "Council of Nine", called "Il Buon Governo" (the Good Government). Nine citizens, elected by lot, assumed power for two months: during their term of office, they lived in seclusion in the Palazzo Pubblico. This system allowed several hundred individuals to play a major political role in the state.Today, this august communal palace, emblematic of Siena, houses not only the town hall, but also the civic museum (very interesting, we recommend it), as well as the entrance to the Torre del Mangia, another famous symbol of Siena.
A powerful symbol of Siena's civic power, the Torre del Mangia
majestically dominates the Piazza del Campo. This elegant brick tower, topped by a white travertine bell tower, was built between 1325 and 1348 by the brothers Francesco and Muccio di Rinaldo, originally from Perugia. It is the third highest tower in Italy!Its name, rather curious, comes from the bell ringer Giovanni de Balduccio, nicknamed "Mangiaguadagni" who, between 1347 and 1360, was entrusted with the task of beating the hours by the town hall. Since then, it has been replaced by an automaton called "Mangia", in memory of its first striker. Only on the day of the Palio, the bell, known as "Campanone", is traditionally struck, as in the past!
At the base of the tower is the cappella di Piazza, built in 1352, whose vault was made by Antonio Federighi between 1461 and 1468.
the view from the top of the tower is well worth some effort! The view from the top of the tower is well worth the effort. Don't be afraid to climb the 503 steps of the tower! They are high, narrow and smooth (yes, the building was not designed to be visited by tourists!), but they allow you to reach the top of this 87 meters high construction (102 meters to the lightning rod), which rises above the Palazzo Pubblico. They lead to a splendid panorama, on the piazza del Campo, the ochre roofs of Siena and the surrounding countryside, breathtaking, if not already done by the climb!On the practical side, you should know that the entrance tickets cannot be reserved in advance, they can be purchased directly at the tower's ticket office.
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