Torre del Mangia, Siena: Visit

Where: Il Campo 1, Siena
Best for: The civic tower above Piazza del Campo
Allow: 30 minutes

From Palazzo Pubblico, the Torre del Mangia rises above Piazza del Campo, the setting at the heart of Siena's civic life. Siena's historic centre, shaped around the Campo, was inscribed by UNESCO in 1995 as one property. The tower reaches nearly 87 metres above the square, or 102 metres to the lightning rod. From the top, the view opens across Siena.

Medieval chronicles place the foundations in autumn 1325, while the first recorded payments for the work date to 1338. Several technicians took part in the building campaign. The tower was probably complete by 18 December 1344, although work is recorded through 1349, so its construction belongs to a longer civic programme rather than a single dated commission.

The square-plan brick shaft ends in a double crenellated crown called the rocca, made of travertine and dark stone. Its materials recall Siena's civic colours. The Comune decided to install a mechanical clock in 1360; the great Sunto bell, installed in 1666, still sounds for important moments in city life, especially the Palio.

The tower's name carries a human story, too. The Comune links Mangia to Giovanni di Balduccio, its first bell-ringer, nicknamed Mangiaguadagni for his spending habits. The name later passed to the clock automata: the travertine figure made by Angiolo Bini in 1766 is displayed in the Cortile del Podestà, not a statue of Giovanni. Continue with our Siena guide for the surrounding city.

Torre del Mangia rising above Palazzo Pubblico and the brick-paved Piazza del Campo in Siena — Brick shaft and white stone crown rising from Palazzo Pubblico above the sloping square.

Look closer

Piazza del Campo in Siena seen from the tower, its paving divided into nine wedges — The shell from aboveFrom the summit, the fan of pale lines divides the Campo into nine wedges.

The white stone crown of the Torre del Mangia against a blue sky — The stone crownWhere the plain brick shaft turns to white stone, on corbels with slender arches.

Looking up from the brick Cortile del Podestà in Siena toward the tower — The Podestà courtyardInside Palazzo Pubblico, brick walls and Gothic windows frame the tower overhead.

Three things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

The rocca
A double crenellated crown in travertine and dark stone recalls Siena's civic colours.At the tower's summit
A measured height
The Comune gives nearly 87 metres above the Campo and 102 metres to the lightning rod.Above Piazza del Campo
Sunto, the great bell
Installed in 1666, the 6,764 kg bell accompanies civic occasions, particularly the Palio.On the rocca

Plan your visit

Booking: No advance reservation; tickets can sell out at daily capacity.
Time needed: 30 minutes
Best time: Check the operator's current ticket information before building your day around the climb; tickets can sell out at the daily limit.
Getting there: The tower is at Il Campo 1, in Siena's ZTL, so private cars cannot reach the Palazzo directly. The bus terminus at Piazza Gramsci is about a 10–15-minute walk away; from the railway station, about 2 km distant, the operator points to urban bus 520. It recommends Parcheggio Duomo or Santa Caterina from Siena Ovest, or Parcheggio Il Campo from Siena Sud.
Accessibility: There is no lift and the ascent is about 400 steps. The operator does not permit access for visitors with motor disabilities and strongly discourages the climb for people with heart or respiratory conditions, claustrophobia, vertigo, diabetes, during pregnancy, or anyone in poor health. Visitors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Single Torre del Mangia ticket: €10 on the official operator tariff page checked 17 October 2026. Tickets including the tower cannot be reserved and are sold on the day at the Palazzo Pubblico ticket office; the operator also lists Dear Guests with a €1 presale surcharge. Sales can stop when the daily capacity is reached. Recheck the operator's current ticket information before visiting.

Allow no more than 30 minutes for the tower visit: the operator's limit includes the ascent, time at the top and descent. Tickets may sell out at the daily capacity.

Official website

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Il Campo 1, 53100 Siena, Italy

Good to know

When was the Torre del Mangia built?

Chronicles place its foundations in 1325, while the first recorded payments date to 1338. The tower was probably complete by 18 December 1344, though work is documented through 1349.

Who designed the tower?

Several technicians took part in its construction. The Comune names Agostino di Giovanni and the brothers Minuccio and Francesco di Rinaldo among those paid from 1341 to 1345; it considers the Lippo Memmi design hypothesis less credible.

Where does the name Mangia come from?

The Comune links it to Giovanni di Balduccio, the first bell-ringer, nicknamed Mangiaguadagni for his spending habits. The clock figure now in the Cortile del Podestà is the later automaton made by Angiolo Bini, not a statue of Giovanni.

How long does the climb take?

The operator allows a maximum of 30 minutes for the whole tower visit, including ascent, time at the top and descent.

Can I reserve a ticket, and what does it cost?

The official tariff page lists the single tower ticket at €10, checked 17 October 2026. Tickets including the tower cannot be reserved and are sold on the day at Palazzo Pubblico; Dear Guests is another listed point with a €1 presale surcharge. Sales can stop at the daily capacity, so check the current operator page.

Who can climb the Torre del Mangia?

There is no lift and the tower has about 400 steps. The operator does not permit access for people with motor disabilities and strongly discourages the climb for specified health conditions, pregnancy or generally poor health. Visitors under 14 need an adult with them.