Torre Prendiparte (Coronata)

Torre Prendiparte, also called the Coronata for its crown-like battlements, stands on Piazzetta Prendiparte in the Quadrilatero area of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, a short walk from the Cathedral of San Pietro and the Via Albiroli. It was built in the 12th century by the Prendiparte family, one of the noble clans that dominated the commune in the age of Guelph and Ghibelline conflicts, and rises about 60 metres, making it the second-tallest medieval tower in the city after the Asinelli. Like other Bolognese tower-houses it was designed as a defensive refuge and a visible sign of family power, with a thick base and a narrow shaft in brick and selenite blocks. Later centuries changed its role: the tower passed from the family and, according to local tradition, its lower rooms were used as a prison, and a medieval cell at the base is among the features shown to visitors. The tower has been restored in recent decades and is privately run, which is unusual for a major landmark in Italy. It is opened to the public by reservation only and operates partly as a small guesthouse, offering visitors the chance to climb the internal wooden stairs level by level and to see the vaulted rooms, the timber floors and the crowning battlemented loggia. The panorama from the top covers the roofs of the old centre, the Two Towers, the dome of San Petronio and the hills to the south. Because the structure is small, groups are kept limited, and visits are arranged directly with the owners through the tower's own website. The surrounding Quadrilatero streets, with their food shops and market stalls, give a feel for how the tower-house district looked in the Middle Ages. Visitors should confirm current times, prices and the number of steps when booking, since details are set by the operator and may change.