Piazza di Porta Ravegnana
They have been the symbol of Bologna for almost nine hundred years: already built in stone at the beginning of the 12th century at the entrance to the city from the Via Emilia and the Via Ravegnana, which connected directly with Ravenna.
The Asinelli tower is named after the family that built it. An impressive 97.2 metres high, it had few rivals in size at the time. The slope gives rise to an overhang of 2.23 metres and the top can be reached via a flight of 498 steps.
The Garisenda tower is also named after the noble family that had it erected. Shortly after its construction, the slope was so steep that it is believed that building was stopped and even some 12 metres were demolished in the 14th century, bringing the height to the current 48 metres. Dante Alighieri saw it when it was still intact and not lowered and compared it to the giant Antaeus leaning over him and Virgil in the XXXI canto of the Inferno.
The overhang is about 3.4 metres above the base.
