Guinigi Tower

Guinigi is a medieval tower located in the city of Lucca. A monument of Romano-Gothic architecture, which has been preserved to this day in a unique form. Here you can meet crowds of tourists who seek to get to the upper observation deck to take the best photos of the buildings and landscapes of the city.

History of origin

The history of this building is connected with the influential Guinigi family, which ruled throughout Lucca. Guinigi bought out most of the city's land and began to build up these lands with a building complex. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Guinigi decided to decorate their quarter by building a tower on its territory. At first, there was an honor guard in the tower, which guarded "the honor and peace of the Guinigi family," a little later the tower was used as an outpost of the city. At the end of the 14th century, the last representative of the Guinigi family decided to donate the tower to the city of Lucca. A big celebration was held in the city in honor of this event, and the Guinigi family further strengthened its authority and position in this area of Italy.

Architectural features of the building

Unfortunately, it is not known for certain who was the author and chief architect of this project. Guinigi Tower is 50 meters high. A visitor entering the tower is greeted by twenty-five flights of stairs and 230 steps that zigzag upward. The upper part of the tower is decorated with a crown, which is separated by gilded paint. There is a playground at the top, which offers a magnificent view of the entire city. The boxes built into the site, which contain the earth with the seeds of stone oaks growing in it, are surprising.

The tower is built of brick, its rectangular structure is visually facilitated by four-part windows. Guinigi Tower is decorated with various coats of arms, plaques, flags with family coats of arms. The tower itself was restored and opened for tourist visits in the late 1980s. Nowadays, the tower still belongs to the city - the city council, officially being a landmark of the city. Nowadays, Lucca often hosts festivals and carnivals, as well as city processions. The tower is actively used as an observation deck, as well as the central place of the beginning of urban performances.

The city of Lucca has long been famous for its magnificent history and magnificent cultural monuments. Many Renaissance buildings, which are symbols of this city, have been preserved in their original form in the city. The Guinigi Tower requires a mandatory visit, as it is a historical and iconic place of the city. Many residents of the city consider it the main monument of the entire region.