Torre Troyana

The Torre Troyana is a freestanding medieval bell tower in Asti, Italy, and one of the principal symbols of the city. Its base was laid in the late twelfth century but construction stalled until the Troja banking family acquired the site and resumed building in the early thirteenth century, finishing the tower sometime between 1260 and 1280. The square tower stands 44 meters high with sides of 5.90 meters and is capped with Ghibelline merlons and a metal pinnacle housing a clock; Asti once had about 120 such towers built by wealthy families to display their status, and several still stand today. The bell of the tower, once used to signal daylight hours, still marks the hours and is the second-oldest bell in Piedmont still performing that duty.