Torre della Scimmia

The Torre della Scimmia is a four-story square tower in Rome with brick walls and travertine stone reinforcements at the corners. Each side displays marble window frames, and a Madonna statue with a burning flame stands at its summit.

The tower was built by the Frangipane family during the Middle Ages as a fortified stronghold in a neighborhood filled with similar structures. In the 16th century it was incorporated into Palazzo Scapucci through architectural modifications that reshaped its role in the city.

The name refers to a legend about a monkey that belonged to a medieval family and sparked local devotion to the Virgin Mary. People in the neighborhood have long associated this place with faith and daily Roman life.

The tower is located at Via dei Portoghesi 18, a quiet street close to Piazza Navona, and is easy to spot from the street. Interior access is limited or unavailable to visitors, but its facade and the Madonna statue at the top are clearly visible from ground level.

The stone surfaces of the tower display heraldic symbols of the Scapucci family, including an eight-pointed star and an upward-pointing crescent moon. These carved details are easy to miss but reveal the identity of the family that later occupied the building.