In Mantua, the powerful families had only one desire: to rise higher. And so, from tower to tower, the city's skyline transformed.
In the Middle Ages, the city must have looked very different from what we see today. Evidence of this is found in the many engravings in which Mantua is depicted as a walled inhabited area, from which numerous towers rise.
Powerful families built towers for several reasons: to defend themselves and to demonstrate their strength and authority. They were often inhabited, and their height made them suitable for use in tight spaces, such as those found in medieval cities.
The tower house or fortified house is self-sufficient from a defensive standpoint. The ground floor is often used as a cistern to collect rainwater. The upper floors serve as a residence in case of external attack: entry is through a door located several meters above ground, reached by a wooden ladder, which is lowered to the street only when necessary.
Find out more:
Cage Tower
Bonacolsi Tower
Sugar Tower
Gambulini Tower
Tower of the Hours
Clock Tower
Salaro Tower
