Ghirlandina belltower
Built as the belltower of the cathedral, this tower has however played an important public function since its origins : the ringing of its bells marked the everyday life in the city, it announced the opening of the gates of the city walls and acted as a warning for the people in situations of alarm and danger. Its mighty walls guarded the so-called “Sacristy" of the Municipality, which was home to the strongboxes, public documents and objects of great symbolic value like the famous fourteenth-century “Secchia Rapita” or Stolen Bucket (a copy is currently on display).This humble yet supreme object of contention between the people of Modena and Bologna in the enflamed historic battle of Zappolino (1325) was raised to fame in the mock-heroic poem of the same name by Alessandro Tassoni.
Debate regarding the chronology of the Ghirlandina is still open because direct historic sources are missing for the initial building stages. Around 1160 the foundations were being dug and the tower was built to a height of 11 metres. Between 1167 and 1184, after a brief pause due to the settlement of the construction site, the building reached the fifth floor, topped by four corner turrets. In 1260 the sixth storey was built, which incorporated the turrets. In 1319, the tower was completed with its octagonal pinnacle, exquisitely gothic and originally decorated with numerous spires, designed by Enrico da Campione.
The outside of the Ghirlandina Tower is characterised by a rich array of sculptures and a white marble cladding. The precious material used for the coating was salvaged from the ruins of the roman city of Mutina, as revealed by scientific investigations carried out during the recent renovation work, started in 2007 and completed in 2011.
Inside the Ghirlandina, on the fifth floor, visitors can admire the so-called Stanza dei Torresani, decorated with elegant medieval capitals and once house of the tower keepers.
Together with the cathedral and Piazza Grande, the Ghirlandina belltower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
Opening hours
The Ghirlandina tower can be visited from Monday to Sunday.
FROM MAY 1st TO SEPTEMBER 30th 2025:
Every day: opening 9:30 - 19:00
Entry times: 9:45, 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:30, 17:15, 18:00
Every Saturday in August
Entry times: 9.45, 10.30, 11.15, 12, 12.45, 13.30, 14.15, 15, 15.45, 16.30, 17.15, 18.00, 18.45, 20.15, 20.45, 21.30, 22:15
Guided tour in English: 19.30
FROM OCTOBER 1st 2025 TO MARCH 31st 2026:
Every day: opening 9:30 - 18:00
Entry times: 9:45, 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:30, 17:15
Closed: Christmas Day and the morning of New Year’s Day.
The visit is permitted in groups of up to 25 people for each hourly shift, with reservation only
How to book
Reservation of a specific time slot is mandatory and can be made:
- online on this page (recommended way)
- by telephone IAT tel. 0592032660
- by e-mail to info@visitmodena.it or torreghirlandina@comune.modena.it
During the booking no payment is required and it is necessary to indicate the names of all participants
Tickets and admission
- Ghirlandina Tower ticket: €6.00 per person.
- Discounted tickets: €4.00 for children, citizens of the City of Modena, students from 13 to 26 years and people over the age of 65.
- Admission is free for children up to 12, for persons with disabilities and their caretakers, for tour guides and interpreters, and for teachers accompanying groups of students of any age.
To know before you go
If you're coming with a group we suggest to contact us before your arrival to book one or more time slots to get inside the tower.
Access is allowed for small dogs if they are carried in arms.
The Ghirlandina Tower can be visited up to the Torresani Room.
Access to the top is not permitted, in accordance with safety regulations.
