The Torre Guinigi is a tower in

Lucca Lucca ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its province has a population of 383,957. Lucca is known as one o ...

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze''). Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...

, central Italy. It is a typical example of local Romanesque-Gothic architecture. The height of the tower is 45 meters with a total of 233 steps to reach the top. The tower dates from the 1300s, when a number of wealthy families were building bell towers within the walls of Lucca as status symbols. It is one of the few remaining towers within the walls. It is known for the tall trees (

holm oaks ''Quercus ilex'', the evergreen oak, holly oak or holm oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the ''Ilex'' section of the genus, with acorns that mature in a single summer. Description An evergreen t ...

) growing on top of the tower - The kitchen was originally on the floor below with the rooftop serving as a kitchen garden. The tower was donated to the local government by the descendants of the Guinigi family. Torre Guinigi, Guinigi Tower, Lucca

External links

Palazzo e Torre Guinigi (travelitalia.com)
Guinigi Palaces in Lucca Tourist attractions in Tuscany Romanesque architecture in Lucca {{Commonscat, Torre Guinigi beans