There are very few destinations in the region that are as awe-inspiring as the Torre Grossa, the highest tower of San Gimignano. It is located in Piazza del Duomo, on Palazzo del Podestà's right side, and has always been the symbol of civic pride.The construction of the Torre Grossa started on August 21, 1300, four months after Dante Alighieri visited the city. Municipal authorities wanted to enrich San Gimignano with a tower that would become the city's symbol. The building fulfilled a military function, as a watchtower, and a civil one as a bell tower.The tower's walls are two meters thick and made of stone carved in regular bricks. After climbing the tower’s 218 steps, visitors will have panoramic views of the city. Admire the city landscape with its roofs, squares, alleys, and palaces. Also seen in the distance: the woods of Poggio del comune, the white peaks of Alpi Apuane, the delicate colors of Chianti vineyards, and the gentle hills of Casentino and Pratomagno.