Towers were built by the city’s wealthy residents from the 13th to 15th centuries. During this period as many as seventy-two quadrangular case tore towers were built, and only fourteen of them remain today.
The first tower measuring 51 meters–Torre Rognosa–was built around 1200 and was part of the Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà (old city hall). The tallest tower measuring 54 meters was the Torre Grossa, which was built in 1311 as part of the new city hall – Palazzo Nuovo del Podestà (Palazzo Comunale).
Possible families competed with each other over the height of the towers until this rivalry was finally put to rest by the local authority. A decree was issued by the city council, under which no tower could be taller than that of the Palazzo Comunale.
