Torre di Arnolfo, or Arnolfo’s Tower, is a medieval tower located inside Palazzo Vecchio (Vecchio Palace) in Florence, Italy. It has a crenelated Chemin de Ronde with an imposing height of 312 feet (95 m) overlooking the city. Its rusticated stone facade is reminiscent of that of Pitti Palace and is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Florence.
A crenelation is a rampart built around the top of a castle and contains uniform gaps for firing arrows. A Chemin de Ronde is a raised protected walkway behind a castle battlement. Take a look at the photo of Palazzo Vecchio with Torre di Arnolfo above. Do you see the crenelations?
Where is Torre di Arnolfo?
Torre di Arnolfo adorns the Vecchio Palace in the heart of Florence. At the bottom of the Vecchio Palace is the Piazza del Signoria, the expansive main square of Florence decorated with many different art pieces of the Renaissance period. Easily the most popular work is the replica of the statue of David by Michelangelo.
One block away is the famed Uffizi Gallery, one of the top museums in the world! If you are a museum lover, be sure to read this post on the top museums you should visit in Italy. Other major highlights of the city, including the Duomo and the Arno river with its famed Ponte Vecchio, are just steps away. In addition, from the top of Arnolfo’s tower, you can catch an amazing view of the city center and the famous red-tiled roofs of Florence.
Planning your trip to Florence? Be sure to check out this guide that covers what to do in Florence for 1, 2, or 3 days!
What is Palazzo Vecchio?
Palazzo Vecchio is an important historical landmark from medieval Florence. It was built to showcase the might and influence of Florence city. In the 1200s, Florence was an early modern city-state with its own government, the Signoria. So, as the seat of the government, Palazzo Vecchio was built as an impressive building housing the offices of the elected officials. Today, you can see the prominent location of this palace in the heart of the city signaling its importance.
Palazzo Vecchio, which houses Arnolofo’s Tower, was originally called Palazzo della Signoria since it housed the Signoria of Florence. However, this changed when Cosimo de Medici (yup, that famous family) came to power in Florence as the Duke of Florence. In 1540, he moved his official seat to Palazzo Vecchio. A few years later in 1549, he purchased Palazzo Pitti and moved the government offices to Pitti Palace. At that time, this Palace became known as Palazzo Vecchio or the “Old Palace”.
Torre did Arnolfo: All the details
Interestingly, when Palazzo Vecchio was built over the ruins of two separate palaces, an old tower was incorporated into the structure of the Palazzo Vecchio tower. This old tower transformed into Torre di Arnolfo as we know it today. It has a large single-handed clock facing the front of the building and is visible from the piazza. The Palazzo Vecchio tower’s distinctive look and imposing height also make it super recognizable from different points in the city.
Speaking of beautiful views, read my post here on the most stunning (read: photographable) veiwpoints in Italy!
Who built and designed the tower?
Torre di Arnolfo, and as an extension, the Palazzo Vecchio, is considered to be designed and built by Arnolfo di Cambria. He was also the architect of the Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Thus, Arnolfo’s tower gets its name from its builder. The clock on the tower was originally constructed in 1353 but was replaced with a replica in 1667.
Main highlights of Torre di Arnolfo
The Torre di Arnolfo can be accessed above the second floor of Palazzo Vecchio. You start at the bottom of 233 steps just like in the pic below (the total number of steps from the first level is 416 though). Even though that is a lot of stairs, don’t be afraid to climb up as there are multiple stops along the way. Just be ready to climb a few flights of stairs!
Soon, you climb up to a landing and will see battlements (medieval guard walk) with semi-open views of the city on one side and cells on the other. These very cells imprisoned Cosimo de Medici (the Elder) in 1435 and Frair Girolamo Savonarola in 1498. While Medici was imprisoned before being exiled from Florence for a year for plotting against the republic of Florence, Savonarola was waiting to be executed as a heretic. Florentines from the time nicknamed the prison the “Albergaccio” (or “very bad hotel”)!
At the end of the stairs, you are at the very top of Torre di Arnolfo. The stairs open up to the last crenelated landing with a spectacular lookout at the city and the valley beyond.
This is the view you will have come to see! Check out the view below of Piazza del Signoria. Walk around the battlement and you will see all the important landmarks of the city. My favorite was the view of the Duomo including Giotto’s bell tower from the tower. Pretty sweet, right?
Should you visit Torre di Arnolfo (Palazzo Vecchio tower)?
You should definitely visit the Torre di Arnolfo if you’re visiting Florence for 2 or more days. The climb to the top of the tower is especially fun if you are traveling with kids. Additionally, any history buff will have a field day exploring the treasures of Palazzo Vecchio and Arnolfo’s tower for its connection to old Florence.
Another important reason to visit? If you are a Dan Brown fan! You will have a blast looking at all the artifacts and locations within this palace that Dan Brown’s Inferno references. As did I!
Be sure to also check out the Hall of five hundred, the apartments, and the Mappa Mundi room as part of the Palazzo Vecchio tour.
How to visit Torre di Arnolfo?
You can visit the Torre di Arnolfo as part of your tour to Palazzo Vecchio. You can also go to the tower without entering the palace, but I would highly recommend checking out the palace as well. Here is how you can get tickets to the tower.
Line up at the ticket counter
You can purchase tickets to Palazzo Vecchio and the Arnolfo tower at the door. However, I would recommend against doing this unless you have plenty of time to kill. During favorable travel months, the wait time to buy a ticket can be more than an hour. With that being said, it will be a bit cheaper as there is no booking fee associated with this ticket.
The entrance is through the Palazzo Vecchio museum. You have the option to buy tickets for the tower alone or with the palace. I would strongly recommend doing the palace as well, particularly if you like art and history. There is a TON of history in this place to explore.
Price: 12.50 euros each (total of 25 euros for both the palace and the tower)
Book tickets online
One of the better ways to plan your visit to Torre di Arnolfo is to pre-book your tickets online. The tickets here are timed, so be sure to plan ahead for the time you want to enter. For the best photos from the battlements, visit earlier in the day, at 10 am or earlier.
For tickets to the Arnolfo tower, it is best to pre-book them ahead of time as they get fully booked out in advance.
Note that you will need to book the ticket for Arnolfo Tower and Palazzo Vecchio museum separately.
Price: 12.50 euros + 1 euro booking fee for each (total of 27 euros for both the palace and the tower)
Purchase the Firenze Card
While the Firenze Card is expensive as a one-time buy, it is the most economical option, if you intend to go to the majority of the highlights of Florence. You will also get a priority line for entrance to most of the popular spots. So, if you travel in peak tourist season, I would highly recommend a Firenze Card. Even during slower seasons, I would recommend the Firenze Card because of the convenience of carrying it, as opposed to trying to book multiple entrance tickets to different attractions.
It is valid for 72 hours and you can visit each of the attractions only once.
However, if you plan to visit only 1-2 attractions offered under the Firenze Card, it would be better to book those places directly.
Price: 85 euros for the card (including entry to Uffizi, Accademia, Giotto Bell Tower, Palazzo Pitti, etc.)
Get a guided tour
For folks looking for a guide to walk you through the palace and tower, get a guided tour. TripAdvisor has several tours for private and small groups. Getting a guide makes a difference to your experience as they provide historical facts and anecdotes as you explore Torre di Arnolfo.
This option will also save you the time of waiting in line as guided tours have skip-the-line entrance privileges. However, it is also the most expensive option.
Price: Varies, but usually over 40 euros for the palace and the tower
Best time to visit Arnolfo’s Tower
The best time to visit Florence is early to mid-May or late September through October. During these times, the temperatures are still pleasant, but the crowds are less. If you need to visit during peak summer, be prepared for hot, sweltering weather and more expensive hotels and flights.
Palazzo Vecchio and the Arnolfo Tower’s opening times are below.
Arnolfo’s Tower opening days and times:
Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
Thu – 9 am to 2 pm
Palazzo Vecchio opening days and times:
Palazzo Vecchio is open every day with the exception of Thursday.
Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun – 9 am to 7 pm
Thu – 9 am to 2 pm
Note: The last admission to these spots is one hour before closing time.
Additional notes about visiting Torre di Arnolfo
- The top battlement of the tower from where you can see amazing views is closed in the event of rain. However, the medieval guard walk (or Chemin de Ronde) remains open. So, make sure to plan accordingly.
- Torre di Arnolfo does not have disabled access.
- The tower cannot be accessed by children under the age of 6. Additionally, folks under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Visitors with reduced mobility, and suffering from heart diseases, asthma, vertigo, and claustrophobia are not allowed to climb the tower.
To prepare for your Florence trip, check out this post about Uber’s service and coverage in Florence here. It also includes other transit options you can avail of in the city.
What to wear while visiting the Torre di Arnolfo
While most churches in Italy require a strict dress code to enter, Torre di Arnolfo is located in Palazzo Vecchio which is a museum. Thus, there is no dress code to enter this place. As such, you can dress for the season when you visit it. Keep in mind that the tower has a significant number of steps to climb to the top. So, make sure you wear comfortable shoes.
Additionally, at the top of the tower, it can be windy. That is a pleasant respite if you’re traveling in the sweltering summer, but, during fall and winter, the wind is cooler. My recommendation is to carry a scarf that you can wrap around yourself if the temperature gets uncomfortable. A scarf is essential when you’re traveling in Italy as it serves multiple purposes. It can be a deterrent to cold, and can also cover your shoulder when visiting a church.
FAQs
Is entry to Torre di Arnolfo Covered under Firenze Card?
Yes, you can go to the top of Torre di Arnolfo using your Firenze Card. Note the opening hours of the tower. You can enter until 1 hour before closing time.
Can you climb to the top of the Palazzo Vecchio Tower?
Yes, you can certainly climb to the top of the Arnolfo Tower. Keep in mind that the steps are numerous and steep. However, there are areas where you can stop to catch your breath if needed without impacting foot traffic.
How many steps to the top?
There are a total of 416 steps to the top of Torre di Arnolfo. While it may seem like a lot, there are multiple landings on the way. So, you can take your time climbing the steps. The view from the top is so worth it!
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If you are also planning to go to Venice on your Italy trip, make sure to read my post on how to spend an unforgettable 36 hours in Venice here!
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