Devil's Tower

A hub of stories and legends, the Devil's Tower is certainly one of the most famous towers in San Gimignano also because of the mystery that surrounds this ancient construction. Located on the northern side of Piazza della Cisterna and part of the Palazzo dei Cortesi, it is already clear from its name that there is a dark story behind this tower. Legend has it that upon the owner's return to the city after a long journey, he found to his surprise that the tower was taller than when he had left it. This episode was attributed to the intervention of demonic forces, hence the name attached to the figure of the Devil. Feeding the popular belief is precisely the tower's sinister appearance, particularly its protruding supports and the color given by the use of white limestone that distinguishes it from other buildings in the vicinity. 

The conformation of the building features a double-height portal that surely, in the past, led to an ancient pedestrian passage. In fact, at its foot was the "alley of Gold," one of the most important testimonies of the city's history. The alley was home to numerous workshops of the "battiloro," or those artisans who hammered florins to reduce them into precious, very thin sheets of gold, which were then used to decorate prestigious works of art. The upper part, on the other hand, features holes in the masonry that were used to support the wooden beams of the galleries, which were used to pass from the outside into the different rooms and were withdrawn in case of enemy attack. The windows of the tower are also small loopholes, all typical medieval features in a defensive function.