Climbing the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy

Some might say the view is the reward after climbing nearly five hundred steps to the top of Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy. Once on top, the panoramic view makes you forget about your tired legs. Looking straight down, people move like ants through the Piazza del Campo. The zebra striped cathedral and bell tower stand out, sharing the authority above the sea of red tiled rooftops. And just beyond, the hills of the Tuscan countryside meet the horizon. Although I would agree that this panoramic view is definitely a well deserved reward, the actual ascent of the Torre del Mangia is equally memorable.

Each tower I have climbed in Italy is as unique as its coordinates. Hundreds of years old, some stairwells are cramped, others spacious. Some ascents resemble grottos, others have echoing high ceilings. Some are riddled with graffiti, while others immaculately maintained. But each ascent is an adventure we tend to remember more than the view. I have never met a tower I didn’t enjoy climbing. But so far, my favorite tower was the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy.

The purposeful construction of the Torre del Mangia was quite progressive back in the early 1300s. Built to match the hight of the cathedral, the intent was to symbolize equal authority between the church and state.