Torre degli Sciri, Medieval tower in Perugia, Italy.
Torre degli Sciri is a limestone tower rising above the historic district of Porta Santa Susanna, built with restrained window openings along its facade. The structure stands roughly 42 meters tall and provides access to its top level through an internal staircase.
The tower originally belonged to the Oddi family before passing to the Sciri family in 1483 following conflicts with the Baglioni family. This shift in ownership reflected the turbulent political struggles that defined medieval Perugia.
The tower later housed a school for orphaned girls run by Sister Lucia Tartaglini, blending education with spiritual practice. This transformed how locals viewed the structure as a center of learning and faith for many generations.
Reaching the rooftop involves climbing roughly 232 steps, which rewards visitors with views across Perugia and the surrounding landscape. The staircase is narrow and steep, so a reasonable level of fitness is helpful for the ascent.
This tower is the only fully intact example among roughly 50 similar structures that once shaped Perugia's medieval silhouette. Its survival makes it a rare testament to the city's early urban architecture.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
