Torre De Cantone

Via Santa Maria. (Open Map)
(75)

Description

La Torre de Cantone (or "Gaetani" or "Della Verga d'Oro") is located between Via Santa Maria and Via San Nicola and is connected by an arch over the road with the Palazzo delle Vedove and through another arch, to the church of St. Nicholas.

Built in the twelfth century on a rectangular base, it rose up in the past for at least five floors and the ground floor had a porch. The name "de Cantone" (Italian word for "corner") was given in 1241since it was built on the corner of St. Nicholas Church. It was previously known as the Domus of the Dodi and inside there was a grocery shop. The name of "Verga d'Oro" was given in the nineteenth century due to another structure (that no longer exists) that was at the southeast corner of Via Santa Maria.

The scientist Galileo Galilei invited the Grand Duke of Tuscany to observe from the top of this tower the first discoveries made with his invention: the telescope.

At the bottom, relieving arches at the base of the architecture of the tower are still clearly visible, two on the long side and one on the short, with pointed arch openings, now filled. At the top there is a small portal, also filled by bricks, under which a row of narrow scaffolding holes suggests there was an outdoor wooden balcony. On the fifth floor, the still visible battlements suggest an open space.

Later the tower was raised by two floors with a loggia probably used as a warehouse and a pitched roof covered with slabs of shale.