Torre dei Cerchi, Medieval tower in central Florence, Italy

Torre dei Cerchi is a medieval stone tower in central Florence, standing as a residential structure from the city's tower-building era. The building displays typical features of its time, including narrow windows and thick walls that protected stacked living spaces within.

The original tower belonged to the Conti Guidi and was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. The Cerchi bought it at the end of the 1200s, raised its height and joined it with neighbouring buildings in the 14th century. Their feud with the Donati fed the split between White and Black Guelphs in early Trecento Florence. After the family's expulsion in 1302 the building changed little.

The tower's name comes from the Cerchi family, who bought it from the Conti Guidi at the end of the 13th century. Their feud with the Donati helped split Florence into White and Black Guelphs around 1300. At the corner of Via dei Cimatori, two Cerchi coats of arms still mark the walled-up Loggia dei Cerchi.

The tower stands in the block between Corso, via de' Cerchi and via dei Cimatori, a short walk from the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. The ground-floor portals are partly occupied by shops, so the exterior is seen from the street; the remains of the earlier towers are best spotted at the corner with Canto alla Quarconia and along via de' Cerchi.

The Cerchi tower grew by merging several tower-houses, and its lower floors still open onto Via de' Cerchi through portals of differing sizes, now partly occupied by shops. At the corner with Via dei Cimatori, look for the walled-up traces of the Loggia dei Cerchi and two Cerchi coats of arms.