Torre d'Ercole, Medieval tower in Brescia, Italy

Torre d'Ercole, also called Torre dei Palazzi, is a historic building in Brescia a short distance from Piazza del Foro. It stands at the crossing of the decumanus maximus and the cardo, on ancient Roman ruins. The Palazzi family built it in the 12th century; in 1258 Ezzelino da Romano had it truncated after taking the city.

The Palazzi family built the tower in the 12th century, possibly on the remains of Roman buildings. In 1258, Ezzelino da Romano damaged the tower when he conquered Brescia, yet the structure survived this destruction and endured through the centuries.

The tower is also called Torre dei Palazzi, after the noble family that built it in the 12th century at the crossing of the decumanus maximus and the cardo. The name Torre d'Ercole is not explained by the sources, which record no temple of Hercules here.

The tower is easily accessible on a quiet street near Piazza del Foro and other historic sites such as the Roman Theater. You can view the tower from outside as you walk through the old city without any special arrangements needed.

The tower is also called Torre dei Palazzi, after the noble family that built it in the 12th century. It was truncated in 1258 by Ezzelino da Romano after he took Brescia, so the present height is the result of that demolition, not its original form.