Torre Grossa, Medieval tower in San Gimignano, Italy

Torre Grossa is the tallest tower in San Gimignano, rising 54 metres beside the new Palazzo del Podestà on Piazza del Duomo. It has a square base and stands on a vaulted passage; its facing is of regularly cut stone blocks. At the top, a bell chamber with a pyramidal roof is ringed by a walkway whose parapet rests on small corbelled arches.

Construction of Torre Grossa began on 21 August 1300, four months after San Gimignano hosted Dante Alighieri, and was finished in 1311. It is 54 metres high and stands next to the new palace of the Podestà in Piazza del Duomo. It is one of the few towers in the town open to the public, together with the larger of the Salvucci towers and Torre Campatelli.

The tower represents the rivalry between wealthy families of medieval San Gimignano, who built these structures to display their economic power and influence. These buildings were symbols of prosperity and social standing within the community.

Access to the tower is through the entrance of Palazzo Comunale, where visitors can climb the internal staircase. From the top, views extend across the Tuscan countryside and surrounding landscape.

The tower retained its original height of 54 meters, while many other towers in San Gimignano were reduced by municipal order. This exception makes it a rare example of a tower in its complete medieval form.