What Are the Two Towers of Bologna?

The Due Torri stand at Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the point where the old Via Emilia entered the medieval city. Both were built between 1109 and 1119, in the era when Bologna's wealthiest families competed to raise the tallest private tower as a display of power — at one point the city held well over 100 of these tower-houses, most later demolished or shortened. Only a handful survive, and the Due Torri are by far the most recognizable.

The Asinelli Tower, named for the family credited with building it, rises 97.2 meters and leans about 1.3 degrees off vertical — Italy's tallest surviving leaning tower. It has served over the centuries as a private stronghold, a 14th-century prison, a scientific observation post, and a WWII lookout. The Garisenda Tower, its neighbor, was originally around 60 meters but was deliberately shortened in the 14th century after its foundations began to subside; today it stands about 47–48 meters and leans more dramatically than Asinelli, at roughly 3.2 meters out of plumb. Dante referenced the Garisenda's tilt in the Inferno, and both towers appear in later accounts by Goethe and Dickens.

Two Towers Bologna Tickets & Prices 2026

Neither tower is currently open for climbing. In October 2023, engineers detected worsening movement in the Garisenda's foundations, and the city closed both towers as a precaution while it assessed the risk — Garisenda's lean had visibly increased and officials warned of a genuine collapse danger. The Asinelli Tower closed shortly after "to allow monitoring works" in the surrounding area, and as of this writing it remains shut "until further notice," according to Bologna Welcome, the city's official tourism board.

Before the closure, admission to climb the Asinelli Tower was €5 full price and €3 reduced (children 4–11, seniors 65+, school groups, university students, and Card Cultura holders), with free entry for Bologna Welcome Card holders, licensed guides, disabled visitors and their carers, and children under 3. Reservations were compulsory, sold through Bologna Welcome's official booking page or in person at the Piazza Maggiore tourist office, with entries released in timed batches of roughly 25 people every 15 minutes. There is no elevator — all 498 steps are on foot — so keep that context if and when the tower reopens. Check the official booking page directly before any trip, since it is the single source that will confirm a reopening and updated 2026 pricing.

The square itself, and both towers as viewed from ground level, remain completely free to visit at any time, with no ticket or booking required.

Opening Hours & Best Time to Visit

Because the climb itself is suspended, there are no current opening hours to plan around for the interior — only the exterior view is available, and Piazza di Porta Ravegnana is a public square open around the clock. Before the 2023 closure, seasonal hours for the Asinelli climb ran roughly 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (last entry) in winter (early January to early March and November to December) and extended to 10 a.m.–8:15 p.m. Thursday through Sunday in peak summer (June to early October). If the tower reopens, expect a similar seasonal pattern, but treat any hours you find online as unconfirmed until the official site lists them.

For the exterior view now, early morning (before 9 a.m.) and early evening are the quietest times at the square — Porta Ravegnana sits at a busy intersection of streets and fills with foot traffic and tour groups by mid-morning. Evening lighting on the towers after dusk is also a popular photo window and considerably calmer than midday.

How Long to Plan for Your Visit

Viewing the towers from the square, walking around their base, and taking photos takes about 15–20 minutes. If you're combining it with a coffee stop at one of the cafés ringing the piazza, budget 30–45 minutes. When the Asinelli climb was operational, the ascent and descent themselves took about 45 minutes including the wait at the entry gate — worth keeping in mind for whenever the tower reopens, since the narrow stairwell means groups move slowly and there's no way to pass other visitors.

How to Get to the Two Towers of Bologna

Piazza di Porta Ravegnana sits right on the edge of Bologna's historic center, a roughly 5–10 minute walk east from Piazza Maggiore along Via Rizzoli, one of the city's main pedestrian shopping streets. From Bologna Centrale train station, it's about a 20–25 minute walk, or a short ride on city buses that run down Via dell'Indipendenza toward the center. Bologna Centrale itself is a major rail hub, with fast connections to Florence (roughly 35 minutes), Milan (around an hour), and Venice.

From Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, the Marconi Express monorail runs directly to Bologna Centrale in about 7 minutes, after which it's a walk or short bus ride into the center. The historic center is largely pedestrianized and restricted to permitted traffic, so walking or public transport is simpler than driving once you're in Bologna.

Visit Tips: Queues, Booking & Common Mistakes

The most common mistake right now is planning a trip around climbing the tower without checking current status first — travelers regularly arrive expecting to buy a ticket on the spot, only to find both towers roped off. Confirm the latest status on Bologna Welcome's site before you build an itinerary around the climb. If the Asinelli reopens while you're researching a 2026 trip, expect the same booking rules as before the closure: reservations required, no walk-up sales during busy periods, arrival at least 5 minutes before your slot, and late arrivals forfeited with no refund.

In the meantime, the free things to do in Bologna that don't require a ticket — walking the porticoes, viewing the towers from the square, wandering the nearby market streets — are the practical substitute. The Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio) near Palazzo d'Accursio is the city's current stand-in for a panoramic climb, offering a 360° view when Asinelli isn't an option.

Nearby Attractions

Piazza di Porta Ravegnana sits at the hinge between Bologna's main pedestrian streets, so several major sights are within a few minutes on foot. Piazza Maggiore, the city's central square, is a 5–10 minute walk west along Via Rizzoli, and Basilica di San Petronio anchors that same square. The Quadrilatero market district, Bologna's historic food quarter of narrow lanes and stalls, sits just south of the towers and is an easy add-on before or after. Pair these into a single loop with our one-day Bologna itinerary.