Photo spot in Bologna
The Two Towers
Asinelli and Garisenda, two leaning brick towers from the twelfth century, standing where five old streets meet.
About The Two Towers
Get directionsMedieval Bologna had well over a hundred family towers; two survive together at the eastern end of the old centre. Asinelli is 97 metres and leans slightly; Garisenda is half the height, cut down in the fourteenth century because it leant far more, and it still does.
The towers are best used as a background from a distance rather than photographed head-on. Via Rizzoli gives the classic straight-on view with both in frame, and the portico arches along it work as a foreground that puts them at the end of a tunnel.
Brick reads warm in almost any light, and because the towers are tall enough to catch the sun long after the streets below are in shade, the half hour after the square goes dark is the best light of the day on them.
The crossroads is a busy junction with buses and bicycles, so it is a place to work quickly and stand well back from the road. Access to climb Asinelli varies and the tower has been closed for structural work — check the current status before counting on the view.
Best time to shoot
The half hour after the streets fall into shade, when the towers still hold sun
Tips
Frame them through a portico arch from Via Rizzoli instead of standing underneath — from directly below, the lean disappears and the towers just look like walls.
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Sara A.
I was advised to contact Stefano by a long-time friend (an expert in photography himself, since he works in the field). At first I felt really lost, choosing a photographer rather randomly to best capture the most beautiful moments of my…
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Other spots in Bologna
Piazza Maggiore and San Petronio
The city's main square, with the half-finished marble and brick front of a vast Gothic basilica holding one whole side.
The porticoes of Via Zamboni
The university quarter's covered walkways — painted vaults, ochre columns and a corridor of light and shade running for blocks.
Arco del Meloncello and the San Luca portico
The double-ramped arch where the covered walk to San Luca begins, then 666 arches climbing the hill to the sanctuary.
Ready to book?
Our concierge team will hand-pick 2-3 photographers who know The Two Towers — free of charge.
