Bologna's Iconic Twin Towers Are Closed. Here's What to Do Instead.
Bologna's twin towers of Garisenda and Asinelli are the city's icons, though right now, you can't climb either of them. This short guide covers the history, the current closure, and what to do instead.
UPDATED - JULY 2026
Before we start, there’s important information about Le Due Torri you need to know before visiting.
In 2026, the Torre degli Asinelli will remain closed to visitors. Bologna sealed off the site in October 2023 after sensors picked up increasing deterioration in the Garisenda's base, and the city is now using the same pylon-and-cable system that saved the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a roughly €19 million operation.
The mayor has said the Asinelli could reopen once the Garisenda is secured, but no confirmed date exists, with some estimates putting the work running into 2028.
This guide covers the towers' history, what you can still see and do here now, and where to get the view instead.
//
If climbing 498 narrow, wooden steps to the top of a 97.2m tall leaning medieval tower (leaning a noticeable 1.3° off-centre) for a birdseye view of Bologna sounds daunting, let us tell you - it is!
But trust us, the views from the summit of Asinelli Tower are unequivocally worth it, and watching the sunset high above the red city of Bologna was one of our favourite things to do in Bologna.
The twin towers of Bologna, or le Due Torri, are the number one attraction in Bologna and one of the most commonly recognised symbols of the city. Commenced in the 11th century, the pre-Renaissance towers were constructed by the Asinelli and Garisenda families as defensive fortifications, strategically placed at the entry point in the city of the ancient Via Emilia (Aemilian Way) to warn of any potential invaders.
The panoramic views over the red city are incredible - you can see Bologna in every direction. To the west is the marvellous Piazza Maggiore, and Basilica of San Luca, to the southwest, the ancient Roman road of via Emilia, and to the south the green rolling hills of the Emilia Romagna region. And if you're feeling brave, lean your head over the railing to look down upon the alleyways, courtyards and streets of Bologna.
Our short guide to the Le Due Torri, Bologna’s twin towers, runs through everything you need to know before visiting, including a brief history, an overview of our experience, the cost and opening hours of Le Due Torri, and other essential information for Bologna’s premier attraction.
CLIMBING BOLOGNA’S ICONIC TORRE DEGLI ASINELLI
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOLOGNA’S TOWERS
Did you know that Bologna’s historic skyline resembled a middle-age Manhattan? Nope, neither did we! So what was the reason Bologna’s tower obsession?
Although the consensus amongst historians isn’t clear, it’s widely agreed that the city’s richest families used them for offensive and defensive purposes during the prior of the Investiture Controversy, the fight between the church and state during medieval times.
Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, there were up to 100 - 180 towers at points in history, and the towers of Bologna were even mentioned in Dante’s Inferno;
As when one sees the tower called Garisenda
from underneath its leaning side, and then a cloud
passes over and it seems to lean the more,
thus did Antaeus seem to my fixed gaze
as I watched him bend…
However, from the 13th century many began to be destroyed or torn down. Others were used as prisons, city towers, shops or residential buildings. Demolitions took place right up until the 20th century, when city planners thought it smart to tear town the Artenisi and Riccadonna Towers in 1917.
To this day, only twenty have survived the ravages of fires, wars and lightning strikes. Among the remaining ones are the Azzoguidi Tower (61 m), the Prendiparte Tower (60 m), the Scappi Tower (39 m), Uguzzoni Tower (32 m), Guidozagni Tower, Galluzzi Tower, as well as Bologna's famous Two Towers, the Asinelli (97 m) and the Garisenda (48 m).
Thankfully, the twin towers of Bologna, Asinelli and Garisenda, remained.
They were commenced in the 11th century, constructed by the Asinelli and Garisenda families as defensive fortifications and strategically placed at the entry point in the city of the ancient Via Emilia (Aemilian Way) to warn off any potential invaders.
Over the years, they’ve seen their fair share of change; the Asinelli tower was initially only 60m tall, with later construction work increasing the height of the tower. At one point, it was a home, prison, and part of an improvised castle constructed by Giovanni Visconti to keep an eye on bothersome citizens.
At 97.2 meters tall, the Asinelli tower is larger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Bologna, and taller than the nearby Ghirlandina tower in Modena.
The smaller of the two towers, the Garisenda, actually leans at a steeper incline than the tower of Pisa. Garisenda leans at 4 degrees, and Pisa leans just under that, at 3.97.
Now, they’re a symbol of Bologna, and a bloody wonderful one at that.
ICONIC VIEWS FROM THE SYMBOL OF BOLOGNA (BEFORE THE CLOSURE)
From the moment we arrived in Bologna, we had one clear agenda - to watch the sunset from the top of the 97.2m high Asinelli Towers.
In true The Common Wanderer fashion, we left this endeavour to our last day in the city. Fortunately, though, this was an inspired choice, as the changeable weather of the previous few days made way for some beautiful late-summer sun.
What immediately takes your eye when staring at the foot of the Twin Towers is the noticeable lean. So noticeable, in fact, that it was enough for each of us to question the sanity of climbing to the top - “it’s clearly going to topple”, Mim anxiously blurted, as we walked through the entrance gates.
We made our way through the wooden void of the tower centre, slowly climbing the 498 stairs to the top. Each stair was different to the last, a clear sign of its almost 1000-year life. Within the dark chasm, the lean was far less noticeable, yet the excitement of reaching the summit was tempered by deep burn within our thighs; 498 stairs mightn’t sound like much, but we're here to tell you, it is (we summited Kilimanjaro, so we know a good hike!).
As we made our way towards to the top, light started to peak through a small hole, where the attendant, clearly aware of the stairway struggle, nodded and smiled as if to say “well done”. Well done indeed, we thought, as we took our first glimpse of Bologna from above.
This city is outrageously beautiful - maybe even the most beautiful we’ve seen in Italy (and that’s saying something), but from up here, atop the Asinelli Towers, it was breathtaking. With panoramic views out across the whole city, there’s not an iconic sight you can’t see; To the west, Piazza Maggiore, and the Basilica of San Luca. To the south west, the ancient Roman road of via Emilia, and to the south the rolling hills of Emilia Romagna.
We spent every.single.second enjoying the view, photographing the corners of the city as the sun slowly set to the west. The anxiety of standing on a leaning tower dissipated as layers of golden light lit the terracotta roofs and burnt orange porticoes, and turned the white walls of Basilica San Petronio a subtle ochre.
Our 45 minutes were up, and we reluctantly descended back down the 498 stairs, before making our way to Camera a Sud for a well-earned Aperol Spritz.
RELATED | The best things to do in Bologna
LE DUE TORRI ENTRANCE FEE & OPENING HOURS
Below is an overview of Torre degli Asinelli, as of August 2026.
STATUS | Both towers are closed to the public. Torre degli Asinelli has been closed since October 2023; Torre Garisenda has never been open to climb and remains inaccessible during stabilisation works.
RESTORATION | A roughly €19 million project using the same pylon-and-cable system that stabilised the Leaning Tower of Pisa. No confirmed reopening date, some estimates put the work running to 2028, though this figure is third-party, not official.
COST (WHEN OPEN, PRE-CLOSURE PRICING) | €5 adults, €3 kids/seniors, free for Bologna Welcome Card Plus holders.
THE BEST ALTERNATIVE VIEWS WHILE THE TOWERS ARE CLOSED
TORRE DELL'OROLOGIO, PIAZZA MAGGIORE | Bologna's clock tower has quietly become the best substitute in the city — two viewing platforms taking in the whole of Piazza Maggiore and the rooftops stretching east.
Booking is compulsory now, with timed entry every 20 minutes. €10 full price, €7 reduced (ages 4–11, over 65, students, guided groups of 6+), free with the Bologna Welcome Card. Go as late in the day as you can.
Full detail in our guide to the best things to do in Bologna.
STRAZZAROLI SKY EXPERIENCE | A newer option (launched January 2025) directly across the square from the towers themselves — two panoramic terraces atop the Renaissance Palazzo degli Strazzaroli, looking straight back at the Asinelli and Garisenda from about 25m up.
Currently runs Sundays only, with several time slots between 10am and 4:30pm.
FROM THE GROUND | Even closed, the towers are worth the visit. Stand in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, look straight up, and lean your head back - it's still one of the most disorienting, photogenic moments in the city.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING BOLOGNA’S TWIN TOWERS
THERE ARE 498 STAIRS TO THE TOP (WHEN IT REOPENS)
Yes, you read that correctly - you’re required to climb 498 stairs to the top of Le Due Torri. If that sounds arduous, it's because it is.
Even us, as fit and healthy 30-somethings, struggled to the top, especially in the confined environs of the tower. That being said, if you take your time and enjoy regular rest on the platforms, it is possible for almost everyone to reach the top of the tower.
Unfortunately, there are no lifts, so those with a disability or limited mobility will find it very hard.
THE VIEWS ARE WORTH PLANNING AROUND
When the Asinelli reopens, this section's original advice will still hold: book ahead, go close to sunset, and expect a roughly 45-minute timed visit. We'll update this guide the moment there's a confirmed reopening date.
ASINELLI TOWER FAQS
CAN YOU CLIMB THE ASINELLI TOWER IN 2026?
No. The Torre degli Asinelli has been closed since October 2023, and no reopening date has been confirmed.
It's closed while engineers stabilise the neighbouring Garisenda tower, not because of anything wrong with the Asinelli itself.
WHY IS THE GARISENDA TOWER CLOSED?
The Garisenda has never been open to climb, but the area around both towers was sealed off in October 2023 after monitoring equipment picked up increasing deterioration in the tower's base.
Bologna is now using the same pylon-and-cable system that stabilised the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
HOW TALL IS THE ASINELLI TOWER?
97.2 metres - it’s the tallest leaning medieval tower in the world, taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Modena's Ghirlandina. It leans at a modest 1.3°, compared to the Garisenda's much steeper 4° tilt.
WHAT CAN YOU CLIMB INSTEAD IN BOLOGNA RIGHT NOW?
The Torre dell'Orologio on Piazza Maggiore is the best substitute, with two viewing platforms, a fraction of the steps, and excellent views over the historic centre.
The newer Strazzaroli Sky Experience, directly across the square from Le Due Torri, gets you a rooftop view looking straight back at the towers themselves, though it currently only runs on Sundays.
IS LE DUE TORRI WORTH VISITING IF YOU CAN'T CLIMB IT?
Yes. Standing at the base of the two towers in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, looking straight up at the lean, is still one of the most disorienting and photogenic moments in Bologna, and it's free.
Pair it with a climb up the Torre dell'Orologio nearby and you get most of what makes this spot special, minus the 498 stairs.
WHEN WILL THE ASINELLI TOWER REOPEN?
Nobody knows for certain. Bologna's mayor has said the Asinelli could reopen once the Garisenda's stabilisation work is complete, but no official date exists. Some third-party estimates suggest the project could run into 2028 - treat that as a rough guide, not a confirmed timeline, and check directly with Bologna Welcome before planning a trip around it.
OUR BOLOGNA POCKET GUIDE
Our Bologna City Guide is a curated travel guide, designed to be downloaded to your phone and used as your trusty companion when exploring the city.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find our personal recommendations on the best things to see, eat and drink, places to stay,and things to know, gathered over many trips to Bologna.
BUY NOW | Our Bologna City Guide
PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY SOON?
Make the most of your time in Bologna with our essential Emilia Romagna travel guides.
EXPLORE BOLOGNA
MORE EMILIA ROMAGNA
EXPLORE ITALY WITH OUR TRAVEL GUIDES
Some of the links on this Guide to Le Due Torri, Bologna are affiliate links.
If you choose to purchase using these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please know that by using these affiliate links, you're directly supporting The Common Wanderer to stay wandering, the running costs of the site, and our ability to provide you with free content to help you on your travels.
That, and you're officially a legend.
Where to eat in Bologna in 2026, featuring the best trattorias, modern kitchens, wine bars, cocktail dens, gelaterias and markets. Written from multiple visits to the city.