The historical monuments of Siena: the Torre del Mangia
Posted on 23. Nov, 2010 by admin in Archive, Culture
If you visit Siena, the Torre del Mangia is a must to see, because hold in itself an important part of the city history.
The tower is located in Piazza del Campo, adjacent to the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall) and has been built between 1325 and 1348, to symbolize the freedom of Siena from the feudal system.
The Torre del Mangia (meaning the Tower of the Eater) is always been, in fact, the lay bell tower of the city, a reference point for all the Senese people.
His name has a curious origin: the first guardian of the Tower, Giovanni di Balduccio (or di Duccio), has been nicknamed “il Mangiaguadagni” because he spend all his money for food. So the Tower derives its name from him, a sort of tribute to the good food.
Is the second highest tower of Italy (the first is the Cremona’s Torrazzo), with 102 meters (lightning rod included) and from his top is possible to admire Siena in all his beauty: a breathtaking view (reachable if you climb 400 stairs!) that has no comparison.
The building was realized by two brothers, Francesco and Muccio di Rinaldo, probably guided by Agostino di Giovanni, and the legend tells that some coins was buried at the base of the Tower as an amulet.
Another medieval tradition was the laying of the foundation stones with Hebrew and Latin letters, under every corner of the Tower, so that wouldn’t fall “neither thunder or storm”.
The first clock of the Tower has been built in 1360 and then, in 1776, the dial has been built again in stone and decored with a fresco.
This element was disappeared with the restoration during the XX century, while is intact the original bell, called Campanone or Sunto (because is dedicated to Maria Assunta): needed ten days for his placement above the belfry.
The sound of Campanone is traditionally related to Palio, because only then is played with the clapper instead of automatic hammer.
The Torre del Mangia represents both the guardian of Siena, because stands over the center of the city, and his natural sound, that recalls the liberty hard gained and the myths that his inhabitants like to remember.
