Torre dei Cugnanesi, Fortified tower house in San Gimignano, Italy.
Torre dei Cugnanesi is a 13th-century tower, one of the tallest in San Gimignano, standing between via San Giovanni and via del Quercecchio against the Arco dei Becci. With the massive Palazzo dei Cugnanesi it formed the gate's defensive apparatus. The palace is recognisable by its row of external corbels carrying a projecting balcony at the upper level; at the rear, from the road climbing to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, its solid corner looks like a bastion and was part of the city's first wall circuit.
The tower dates from the 13th century, the same period as the massive Palazzo dei Cugnanesi, and together with it formed the defensive apparatus of the Arco dei Becci, the gate it stands against between via San Giovanni and via del Quercecchio. The rear corner of the palace, seen from the road climbing to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, resembles a bastion and was in fact part of the city's first wall circuit.
The name Cugnanesi belongs to the family whose palace and tower stood here, beside the Arco dei Becci, which they helped defend. The palace is recognised by the row of external corbels carrying the projecting balcony on the upper level, and from the street climbing to the Rocca di Montestaffoli its rear corner looks like a bastion.
The tower rises between Via San Giovanni and Via del Quercecchio, right against the Arco dei Becci. From the street climbing toward the Rocca di Montestaffoli, the rear of the palace shows its massive corner, which looks like a bastion. The tower is one of the tallest in San Gimignano, so its top is best seen from the surrounding streets.
The rear corner of the palace, seen from the road climbing toward the Rocca di Montestaffoli, looks like a bastion because it belonged to San Gimignano's first circuit of walls. The tower and palace stood at the Arco dei Becci, part of that early defensive line.
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