Bologna

 In the 12th century, the Italian city of Bologna was famously filled with towers—around 180 of them once stood across the city. These towers were built mostly by wealthy families as both defensive strongholds and symbols of power and status. The more powerful the family, the taller the tower they tried to build, turning the skyline of medieval Bologna into something like a forest of stone spires.

Today, only a small number of these towers remain. The tallest of them all, known as the Asinelli Tower, still stands and reaches an impressive 97.2 meters (about 318 feet) high. Built between 1109 and 1119, it was named after the Asinelli family. Right next to it is the Garisenda Tower, shorter and leaning, mentioned by Dante in his Divine Comedy.

The Asinelli Tower not only survived the centuries but also offers an amazing view of Bologna from the top, reached by climbing nearly 500 wooden steps. It remains a powerful reminder of the city’s medieval past, when towers defined the skyline and represented the pride of Bologna's elite families.

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