Torre Chigi, Medieval tower house in San Gimignano, Italy
Torre Chigi is a medieval tower house in San Gimignano that survives among a handful of other towers in the town. The structure stands near the Collegiate Church and offers views of the surrounding historic district.
The Useppi family built Torre Chigi in the early 14th century as a residential tower. Later, the building came into the hands of the Chigi-Saracini family, who maintained ownership into modern times.
The tower shows how wealthy merchant families in Tuscany demonstrated their power through tall structures. This tradition shaped San Gimignano's appearance for centuries.
The tower is easily reached from the town center and has staircases leading to upper levels. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the pathways are uneven and involve multiple flights of stairs.
The entrances to the lower levels are not at street level but accessed by interior staircases. This design was a clever defensive mechanism against attackers during times of conflict.
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