Bologna, ITALY – If you wish to travel back to the Middle Ages, Bologna is a place where you can experience the charm of a small, lively old Italian town.
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Wandering through its narrow streets, you’ll discover medieval towers rising above colorful buildings, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old porticos that shelter you from the sun.
The city’s historic squares buzz with life, where cafés, markets, and artisan shops bring the past into the present.
Torre dell’Orologio, the famous clock tower in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s central square, counts several centuries from Italy’s medieval times.
Known as Accursi Tower, the clock tower was built by a man named Accursio. He had moved to Bologna from Florence to study law, according to the official Bologna tourism website.
After completion of his studies, Accursi became a successful lawyer and decided to settle in Bologna. He had a large residence that included a school with a portico overlooking the square and a corner tower.
The tower itself, which according to the tourism site dates to the 13th century was added later, and following Accursio’s death, the expanding municipality of Bologna acquired the building.
About 600 years ago, a large mechanical clock was installed on the façade, initially designed to indicate midday, and from 1451 it also marked nighttime.
Watch a video from atop the tower:
Constructing the clock required partial modifications to the tower and the addition of a smaller turret.
From the top of the clock tower, visitors see a beautiful panorama of Bologna. You can spot couple of towers across the ancient part of the city representing iconic symbols of Bologna.
The two towers, which stand at the city’s center, mark the entrance to its ancient borders.
Constructed in the Middle Ages, they served both military purposes—such as signaling and defense—and as a display of the wealth and social status of the families who commissioned them, according to the tourism website.
Every corner of this city tells a story – from ancient churches and palaces to bustling piazzas – making Bologna a perfect blend of history, culture, and everyday joy.
Nicolo Vincenzo Malvestuto is a Senior Reporter and Senior Photographer with Youth Journalism International.
