Torre Grossa is the tallest tower in San Gimignano, rising to 54 metres in the heart of the historic centre beside the Palazzo Comunale. It began in 1300 and was completed in 1311, making it one of the best-preserved medieval towers in the town. Its square plan and stone-faced exterior are typical of San Gimignano’s tower houses, but its scale and prominence give it a particularly commanding presence.
Its history is closely tied to the civic power of the town rather than to a private family. Over the centuries it suffered damage from a lightning strike in 1632 and later from bombing during the Second World War, yet it still retains much of its medieval character. The upper section includes a bell chamber and a protected walkway, and the surviving scars of past damage are part of what makes the tower feel so authentic. You can climb Torre Grossa as part of the Museo Civico visit, using the same ticket. The ascent is via an internal staircase of 218 steps, so it is a fairly brisk climb, but not a difficult one for anyone with reasonable mobility.
From the top you get one of the finest views in Tuscany: the rooftops and towers of San Gimignano below, the surrounding medieval streets, and the rolling countryside beyond, including vineyards and open hills. On a clear day, the panorama stretches far across the Val d’Elsa and gives you a real sense of why the town’s skyline is so celebrated. It is the sort of view that makes the climb feel completely worthwhile.
Torre Grossa
San Gimignano
Tuscany
Italy
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