Towers

The towers were built between 12th and the first half of the 13th centuries, the only exception being Torre Grossa. In 1300 there were 72 towers, 13 of which are still standing. Only the richest families could afford to build a tower next to their palace, as a symbol of their power and wealth. They were mainly merchants and some of them were mainly merchants and some of them were money lenders. It was very expensive to build a tower because construction materials were not easily accessible. It was forbidden to build private towers higher than the Municipal Tower. So, some families built two or more towers close to one another (e.g. Salvucci and Ardinghelli families). Several plagues during the 14th century resulted in a severe local decadence. During this period there was neither maintenance nor restorstion of the towers. In the 17th century, the municipal authority established that the families should preserve their towers to protect and promote the cultural and historical heritage.