Salvucci Towers
Famous for defying the wishes of the Podestà , two twin towers, the Salvucci Towers, stand in Piazza delle Erbe, next to Piazza Duomo. They belonged to the de' Mangeri family, whose symbol can still be seen on the brackets of the building, and later passed to the Salvucci family, a powerful Guelph family that decided to increase the height of these imposing towers despite the fact that the municipal law of 1255 forbade them from exceeding what was the tallest building of the time, namely Torre Rognosa. The family, which had grown rich through trade and usury, spared no expense for the construction to increase their fame and supremacy in the city. Further motivation was to confront bitter enemies, namely the Ardinghelli family, who built two similar twin towers on the opposite side of the square. In both cases, at the behest of the law in force at the time, the two pairs of twin towers were scapitalized, and to this day, the Salvucci Towers measure about half their original height. The taller one, called the Salvucci Maggiore Tower, was recently restored and inside it houses a period residence with a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. The "Maggiore" as well as the "Minore" are square-based with a few small rectangular windows, while the ground floor has small gates surmounted by lintels. A symbol of wealth and glory, the Salvucci Towers still assert their dominance over the medieval city.