Torre d'Ercole, torre di Brescia
Torre d'Ercole is a stone tower in central Brescia standing about 15 meters high, built from large blocks of limestone with a simple rectangular shape. The structure sits at the crossing of two old streets where Roman buildings once stood, and its thick walls reveal how medieval construction was carried out.
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 takes its name from a temple once dedicated to the hero Hercules, connecting the site to ancient worship and local legends. Visitors walking past can sense how this place held meaning for the people who lived in the medieval city.
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.
A stone inscription built into the wall shows that material from older buildings was reused, a common medieval building practice. This blending of Roman and medieval building material makes the tower a physical record of how the city's history overlapped across centuries.
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