Torre degli Zuccaro, Medieval tower in central Mantua, Italy.
Torre degli Zuccaro is a medieval tower standing in central Mantua near the Ducal Palace and Piazza Sordello. The structure rises approximately 42 meters and features a stone construction typical of towers built during that era.
The tower was built in 1143 and belonged to the Da Ripalta family before passing to the Bonacolsi and then to the Gonzaga dynasty in 1328. Lightning damage in 1540 destroyed its upper section, which was extensively restored in 1553.
Locals call this structure 'Tor dal Sücar' in dialect, meaning sugar tower, likely because it once stored salt. The name lives on in everyday speech and shows how residents connect the building to its past uses.
The tower is located on Via Tazzoli 10 near the Ducal Citadel but is not open to the public as it remains under municipal ownership. You can view and photograph it from the outside while walking through Mantua's central area.
The tower displays windows of different styles from various restoration phases, telling a story of how it was repeatedly modified over the centuries. These architectural changes are often overlooked but reveal much about the tower's complex past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
