The Mangia Tower, which derives its name from Giovanni di Balduccio or Duccio, who was nicknamed Mangiaguadagni (literally earnings-gobbler) or Mangia (goobler), who used to be the bellman before a mechanism was installed to replace him, lends the whole complex of the Palazzo Pubblico its extraordinarily delicate, vertically-oriented elegance. It was started in 1325 and finished in 1348. It was intended as a symbol of the power of the palace inmates and of the town itself. The tower is 87 metres high (102 , if one includes the lighting conductor). The brothers Francesco and Muccio (or Minuccio) di Rinaldo from Arezzo were given the technical responsibility of the construction (1338 - 40) and they therefore shouldered the risks and expense of the building operations. The tower is entirely in brick, up to the soaring white travertine pronged supports of the bell-chamber balustrade, which give the whole tower the appearance of a tall, slender lily.
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Palazzo Pubblico from across Piazza del Campo  |
Mangia Tower  |
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View of Torre from interior courtyard  |
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Stairs leading to the top  |
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Fantastic views of Siena  |
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Duomo in the distance  |
