Due Torri (Asinelli and Garisenda Towers)

The Due Torri, the Asinelli and Garisenda towers, rise at Piazza di Porta Ravegnana in the centre of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, and are the city's best-known symbol. Built in the twelfth century when noble families raised towers as displays of power, the Asinelli stands about 97 metres tall and the Garisenda, now much shorter, leans markedly. The Garisenda is closed to the public and fenced off for structural works, so the climb is only possible on the Asinelli, via roughly 500 wooden steps. Entry is by timed booking through Bologna Welcome, and visitors should arrive about five minutes before their slot. The ascent is steep and enclosed, with narrow stairs, and takes about 15 to 20 minutes up; the whole visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes. At the top, visitors reach a small platform with a view over the red terracotta roofs, the dome of the Basilica di San Petronio, the hills of San Luca and, on clear days, the Apennines and sometimes the Alps. Photographers favour the view down Via Rizzoli toward Piazza Maggiore and the hills to the south. At street level, the best photograph of the pair together is from Via Zamboni or from the foot of Via Rizzoli, where both towers are visible against the sky. The towers draw their biggest crowds in spring and summer, particularly at midday, so early and late slots are quietest and best for light. The climb is not recommended for anyone with heart conditions, claustrophobia or limited mobility. Tickets cost EUR 5, with reduced prices for students, seniors and children aged 4 to 11, and entry is free with the Bologna Welcome Card. The towers sit at the meeting point of the old Roman roads, within a few minutes' walk of Piazza Maggiore and the Quadrilatero.