Symbolic of both Siena's political and spiritual past, as well as its delicious food, the Torre del Mangia offers travelers one of the most historically-inclusive sights in all of Italy.
A vision in white and brown stone, the Torre del Mangia elegantly curves along Siena's Piazza del Campo. Built to be the exact height of the Duomo di Siena, the secular Torre del Mangia was a mark of the city's separate but equal powers of church and state in the city.
Completed in 1344, the Torre remains one of Italy's tallest secular towers, and marks the advanced political thinking of the city.
For those who know Italian, the tower's name, which translates to the "tower of the eater," stems from the construct's first guardian, who supposedly wasted away all of his money on food. Any traveler lucky enough to be in town for a meal, however, will assuredly understand why. Local Sienese classic dishes include pici, the hand-rolled spaghetti complemented with breadcrumbs, and finocchiona, a salami perfectly seasoned with fennel.
