Torre degli Asinelli★

Only a few of the more than 200 towers that once rose above Bologna

Built by noble families as symbols of their wealth and prestige, these two towers are still standing—and just barely. The two most famous lean alarmingly toward one another on Piazza di Porta Ravegna, where the seven main streets of medieval Bologna converge. The 50m (165-ft.) Torre Garisenda tilts a precarious 3m (10 ft.) off the perpendicular, while Torre degli Asinelli, which is nearly twice as tall, is 2.3m (7 1/2 ft.) out of plumb. Best of all, you can climb the Torre degli Asinell i★ 500 steps to the reward of a stunning view over Bologna's red-tile rooftops and the surrounding hills.

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