Torre Guelfa

Torre Guelfa (Guelph Tower) is a tower in Pisa, located on Lungarno Ranieri Simonelli, near the Old Citadel (Cittadella Vecchia) and Ponte della Cittadella.

SHORT HISTORY

On this area, during medieval times, it was the Republican Arsenal, where the ships of the Marine Republic of Pisa were built, ships that contributed to the city’s rise as a Mediterranean power.

At the beginning of the 15th century, the shipyard was enlarged and transformed to what will be later known as the Old Citadel, in opposition to the New Citadel (Cittadella Nuova), built in 1440 on the other side of the city.

Around the same time, Torre Guelfa was built. The name of the tower was chosen in contrast to the older Ghibelline Tower (Torre Ghibellina), erected in 1290 and later destroyed.

The Guelph Tower, together with the Sant’Agnese Tower (Torre di Sant’Agnese), the Canto Tower (Torre del Canto) and the Ghibelline Tower, delimited the ancient area of Terzanaia, where republican galleys were built and repaired.

In 1944, during the Second World War, the whole area was badly damaged by bombing, and the citadel along with the Guelph Tower were completely destroyed, with the exception of the Republican Arsenal.

In 1956, the tower was rebuilt, and the area of the citadel was recovered, after a project of Giovanni Michelucci.

Today, the Guelph Tower is open to the public, and from its top you can enjoy a splendid view of the surroundings. Inside, were placed the ancient sculpted family coats of arms of Florentine Captains and Commissioners who ruled the city.

Also, in the ruins of the Old Citadel, you can find a museum dedicated to the Festival of Luminara di San Ranieri. Even the Republican Arsenal have been restored recently and is now opened for certain events.

HOW TO GET THERE

Torre Guelfa is located near the Bridge of the Citadel, about 1.1 kilometers away from the Pisa Centrale railway station. The closest bus stop is San Paolo a Ripa D’Arno, 350 meters away, on the opposite bank of the Arno River, that can be reached with the buses 6 and 21.