Italian Castles

San Gimigniano - Tuscany

This hill town is famous for its many family towers, built by medieval nobles, who waged feuds between each other from the protection of these stone fortresses.

These towers, which were required by law to be less than 200 feet high, are connected by bridges, according to the allegiances between families.

Trebuchets and other medieval siege engines were installed in some of these towers to wage battle against rival families. Several of these large towers were brought down by the efforts of miners.