Duecento and civil architecture in the Trecento
Tower, security aspect, can be traced to the twelfth century until the fourteenth century in Florence, Siena and other Tuscan cities. A tower looks noble origin or owner (as well as European medieval dungeon), was a place of retreat in case of danger and also a place where they were launching attack against enemy spears and stones.
Problems have occurred when each noble raises his own tower. Florence, for example, have a total of 150 towers, apart from those of old districts of the city. For this reason, there has passed a law prohibiting the construction of a tower more than 30 m from the citizens. The purpose of the law was to avoid civil war in the city.
San Gimignano is a unique example of the Tuscan landscape “city of towers” well kept. The city of golden limestone palaces, with balconies, towers, castles and public fountains best illustrates the pride expressed by raising the medieval towers. Of 72 towers in the past were only 14 remained standing. Tuscan architecture is dominated by the typology of the tower until the fourteenth century.